2 Samuel 5
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 5
Spurgeon - Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid if we would leave it to His sovereign will to choose and to command. The Puritan said, “As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself he’ll cut his own fingers.” “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go” (Ps 32:8) is God’s promise to His people. Let us, then, take all our perplexities to Him and say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Leave not thy chamber this morning without inquiring of the Lord. Saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You give them into my hand?" - The Philistines were a formidable enemy, so instead of relying on his military skills, he seeks to rely on the LORD sage advice! THOUGHT - David presents a good pattern for all of God's children to imitate, because we are always in spiritual warfare, and sometimes that warfare is especially intense and our adversary seems formidable and unconquerable! It is at times like that, that we need to run into the Strong Tower of our great God and seek His word and wisdom for what (and when) we are to do (cf Pr 18:10+). I love David's "song" in 1Ch 16:11 which has become my goto verse in times of trial or affliction - "Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually." And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand - God's Word clearly answered both of David's questions with two verbs, "go" and "give." To give into one's hand is the idiomatic way of saying God was going to give the Philistines into the power of Israel. Note that "will" often conveys a prophetic word as in this case and if God promises it, that settles it. It is as if the future tense verb could be translated as past tense because the outcome is absolutely certain. This is our sovereign, omnipotent God, beloved! Note once again the juxtaposition of God's power and David's responsibility, his "Let God, let's go" mindset! Hand (03027) yad meaning literally a hand and figuratively power or strength (translated "power" 44x, "strength" - 5x - both in NASB). The hand symbolized "power" or "strength" (Dt. 8:17). Dt. 32:36 described Israel's loss of power by saying "their hands were gone." Moses' hand was poignantly used to portray power in the plagues against Egypt (Exodus 10:12-25). The most notable use of this metaphor is its conveyance of God's power. 1Ch 29:12 declares that in Yahweh's hand is power and might (cf. Psalm 89:13). His hand is not "short" (or "weak") (Isaiah 59:1), but mighty. A predominant demonstration of his power was his deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 13:3-16; Numbers 33:3). ILLUSTRATION - The text, however, does not stress the diversity but the fact of Yahweh’s guidance, primarily in its protective capacity. Nor is its vigilance limited to new kings and nascent kingdoms, for legions of kingdom servants remember being placed behind this protective shield. About 1545 in Montrose, Scotland, George Wishart, the mentor of John Knox, received a letter alleging to come from an intimate friend who had become suddenly ill and earnestly desired Wishart’s presence at his death-bed. Wishart set out with a few friends but had scarcely gone a quarter of a mile before he stopped and abruptly announced, ‘I am forbidden of God to go on this journey; will some of you be pleased to ride to yonder place [he pointed to a little hill], and see what you find, for I apprehend there is a plot laid against my life.’ His scouts checked the hill and discovered some sixty horsemen concealed behind it, ready to seize Wishart. The ‘friend’s’ letter had been a forgery of his eminence, the most bloody, treacherous Cardinal Beaton. In multiple ways Yahweh’s guidance never ceases to secure his cause and his people. (Dale Ralph Davis - Ibid) 2 Samuel 5:20 So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters." Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim. BGT 2 Samuel 5:20 καὶ ἦλθεν Δαυιδ ἐκ τῶν ἐπάνω διακοπῶν καὶ ἔκοψεν τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους ἐκεῖ καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ διέκοψεν κύριος τοὺς ἐχθρούς μου τοὺς ἀλλοφύλους ἐνώπιον ἐμοῦ ὡς διακόπτεται ὕδατα διὰ τοῦτο ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ τόπου ἐκείνου ἐπάνω διακοπῶν LXE 2 Samuel 5:20 And David came from Upper Breaches, and smote the Philistines there: and David said, The Lord has destroyed the hostile Philistines before me, as water is dispersed; therefore the name of that place was called Over Breaches. KJV 2 Samuel 5:20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. NET 2 Samuel 5:20 So David marched against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he said, "The LORD has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out." So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. CSB 2 Samuel 5:20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated them there and said, "Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me." Therefore, he named that place the Lord Bursts Out. ESV 2 Samuel 5:20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. NIV 2 Samuel 5:20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the LORD has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim. NLT 2 Samuel 5:20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. "The LORD did it!" David exclaimed. "He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!" So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means "the Lord who bursts through"). Baal perazim: Isa 28:21 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 14:11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place Baal-perazim. LORD OF ARMIES BREAKS FORTH So - For this reason. What reason? For the reason that he had just clearly been directed by Yahweh. We see David's unhesitating obedience, a good pattern to emulate. David came to Baal-perazim (remember "Baal" first means "lord" and only secondarily a Canaanite idol) and defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters." - Note the juxtaposition of Man's responsibility ("David...defeated them.") and the LORD'S sovereignty ("The LORD has broken through.") Let God, let's go. God's part, our part. (See NT parallel = Paradoxical Principle of 100% Dependent and 100% Responsible) David gives the glory to the LORD, not to his military maneuvering or expertise, another good pattern to emulate! Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim - Which means “Lord of the outbursts” or " the Lord of breaking forth." The name conveys the picture of flooding waters breaking through a dam, as David's troops broke through the Philistine assault. Dale Ralph Davis - ‘Baal-perazim’ means ‘lord of burstings out’, commemorating the way Yahweh had broken down the Philistines. David compared Yahweh’s activity to the way a massive torrent of water breaks down everything in its path. Just so Yahweh levels the opposition, and David names the site Smasherton. Micah 2:13+ refers to ‘the Breaker’ (happōrēṣ) who will lead his remnant in breaking out of confinement into deliverance/freedom. I think the term refers to the Messiah. (Ibid) (ED: I THINK DAVIS IS CORRECT -- SEE STUDY OF Christ The Breaker) 2 Samuel 5:21 They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away. BGT 2 Samuel 5:21 καὶ καταλιμπάνουσιν ἐκεῖ τοὺς θεοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ ἐλάβοσαν αὐτοὺς Δαυιδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ LXE 2 Samuel 5:21 And they leave there their gods, and David and his men with him took them. KJV 2 Samuel 5:21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. NET 2 Samuel 5:21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men picked them up. CSB 2 Samuel 5:21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. ESV 2 Samuel 5:21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. NIV 2 Samuel 5:21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. NLT 2 Samuel 5:21 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them. David: De 7:5,25 1Sa 5:2-6 1Ch 14:11,12 Isa 37:19 carried them away. Isa 46:1,2 Jer 43:12 FUTILITY & FATE OF IDOLS They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away - Apparently the Philistines took their idols (cf. 1Sa 31:9+) into battle thinking this would give them power over the Israelites, (cf Israelites had done same thing with ark 1Sa 4:3-4+), but they discovered that their lifeless idols were powerless and of no assistance in war with David and His God, so they left them behind and the Hebrews "confiscated them" (NLT). This passage leaves a false impression that they might have taken them back home to place them in their trophy case, but the parallel passage in 1Ch 14:12 says "They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire." With these orders David is fulfilling the commands in Deut. 7:5,25+ and Deut 12:3+. THOUGHT - There is an implied principle in David's orders regarding the confiscated idols - burn them! Does this not apply to those idols with which the world seeks to ensnare us? If we are not careful those things we think we possess may end up possessing us. If we sense that is happening with anything that is beginning to replace God in our heart, we need to "burn them," (in some way remove them from our heart, which may look different for different idols). Spurgeon - The Philistines brought their gods with them, in the hope of being thereby defended; but “David and his men burned them.” That was the very best thing to do with them. What a pity they did not save them for aesthetic purposes! Thus do men with fine old works of art, like pictures of the Virgin Mary. No, no, burn them; for that is the very best thing to do with anything that ever has been worshipped of mortal man. If they have ever been set up in the place of God, they are cursed from that moment, let them be burned, or dashed in pieces, or in some way destroyed. “There they left their images, and David and his men burned them.” Walton has an interesting background note on abandoned their idols - s. Nearly every army in the ancient Near East included priests and diviners (as seen in the Mari texts), prophets (2 Kings 3) and portable sacred objects (Assyrian Annals of Shalmaneser III [858-824 B.C.]). In this way, the god(s) could be consulted on the battlefield or invoked to lead the soldiers to victory. In the divine warrior motif, the deity is fighting the battles and defeating the deities of the enemy. In most situations prayers would be made and omens asked to assure the god’s presence. The idols would only be abandoned under the most critical circumstances. There are several cases in the ancient world of statues of a god being carried off as trophies of war. For examples see comment on 1 Samuel 5:2. (See page 329 in IVP Background Commentary - OT) 2 Samuel 5:22 Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim. BGT 2 Samuel 5:22 καὶ προσέθεντο ἔτι ἀλλόφυλοι τοῦ ἀναβῆναι καὶ συνέπεσαν ἐν τῇ κοιλάδι τῶν τιτάνων LXE 2 Samuel 5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and assembled in the valley of Giants. KJV 2 Samuel 5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. NET 2 Samuel 5:22 The Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. CSB 2 Samuel 5:22 The Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. ESV 2 Samuel 5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. NIV 2 Samuel 5:22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; NLT 2 Samuel 5:22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. came up: 1Ki 20:22 1Ch 14:13 Valley of Rephaim PHILISTINES SECOND MUSTERING IN VALLEY OF REPHAIM Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim - If at first you don't succeed try again. One wonders if they brought different idols with them this time?! 2 Samuel 5:23 When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. BGT 2 Samuel 5:23 καὶ ἐπηρώτησεν Δαυιδ διὰ κυρίου καὶ εἶπεν κύριος οὐκ ἀναβήσει εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῶν ἀποστρέφου ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν καὶ παρέσει αὐτοῖς πλησίον τοῦ κλαυθμῶνος LXE 2 Samuel 5:23 And David enquired of the Lord: and the Lord said, Thou shalt not go up to meet them: turn from them, and thou shalt meet them near the place of weeping. KJV 2 Samuel 5:23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. NET 2 Samuel 5:23 So David asked the LORD what he should do. This time the LORD said to him, "Don't march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. CSB 2 Samuel 5:23 So David inquired of the LORD, and He answered, "Do not make a frontal assault. Circle around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees. ESV 2 Samuel 5:23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. NIV 2 Samuel 5:23 so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. NLT 2 Samuel 5:23 And again David asked the LORD what to do. "Do not attack them straight on," the LORD replied. "Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. inquired: 2Sa 5:19 fetch: Jos 8:2,7 1Ch 14:14 Mt 9:29,30 8:23-25 Joh 9:6,7 DAVID CONSULTS HIS COMMANDING OFFICER When David inquired of the LORD - In war good communication is essential, and cutting an enemies lines of communication can be the key to victory. Praise God that the lines of communication can never be cut between us and our commanding Officer, the LORD Almighty. He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees - The LORD gives what might seem like an unusual strategy, but David obeys. Notice this answer is not a "Yes" or "No" reply from the LORD, but is a specific set of instructions. This would suggest that this was not obtained by use of the ephod, but by some other means, either dreams or a prophet. NET NOTE - Some translate as “balsam trees” (cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NJB, NLT); cf. KJV, NKJV, ASV “mulberry trees”; NAB “mastic trees”; NEB, REB “aspens.” The exact identification of the type of tree or plant is uncertain. John
2 Samuel 5
Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - “And David enquired of the Lord.” —2 Samuel 5:23 When David made this enquiry he had just fought the Philistines, and gained a signal victory. The Philistines came up in great hosts, but, by the help of God, David had easily put them to flight. Note, however, that when they came a second time, David did not go up to fight them without enquiring of the Lord. Once he had been victorious, and he might have said, as many have in other cases, “I shall be victorious again; I may rest quite sure that if I have conquered once I shall triumph yet again. Wherefore should I tarry to seek at the Lord’s hands?” Not so, David. He had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not venture upon another until he had ensured the same. He enquired, “Shall I go up against them?” He waited until God’s sign was given. Learn from David to take no step without God. Christian, if thou wouldst know the path of duty, take God for thy compass; if thou wouldst steer thy ship through the dark billows, put the tiller into the hand of the Almighty. Many a rock might be escaped, if we would let our Father take the helm; many a shoal or quicksand we might well avoid, if we would leave to his sovereign will to choose and to command. The Puritan said, “As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he’ll cut his own fingers;” this is a great truth. Said another old divine, “He that goes before the cloud of God’s providence goes on a fool’s errand;” and so he does. We must mark God’s providence leading us; and if providence tarries, tarry till providence comes. He who goes before providence, will be very glad to run back again. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go,” is God’s promise to his people. Let us, then, take all our perplexities to him, and say, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Leave not thy chamber this morning without enquiring of the Lord. 2 Samuel 5:24 "It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines." BGT 2 Samuel 5:24 καὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ ἀκοῦσαί σε τὴν φωνὴν τοῦ συγκλεισμοῦ τοῦ ἄλσους τοῦ κλαυθμῶνος τότε καταβήσει πρὸς αὐτούς ὅτι τότε ἐξελεύσεται κύριος ἔμπροσθέν σου κόπτειν ἐν τῷ πολέμῳ τῶν ἀλλοφύλων LXE 2 Samuel 5:24 And it shall come to pass when thou hearest the sound of a clashing together from the grove of weeping, then thou shalt go down to them, for then the Lord shall go forth before thee to make havoc in the battle with the Philistines. KJV 2 Samuel 5:24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. NET 2 Samuel 5:24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines." CSB 2 Samuel 5:24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the LORD will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines." ESV 2 Samuel 5:24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines." NIV 2 Samuel 5:24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." NLT 2 Samuel 5:24 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army." sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees: 2Ki 7:6 thou shalt bestir:Jdg 4:14 7:15 1Sa 14:9-12 1Ch 14:15 Php 2:11,12 LISTEN FOR THE SUPERNATURAL SOUND It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees - NET = "When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively." Davis = "When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you must spring into action, for then Yahweh shall have gone out before you to strike down the Philistine army" NLT = "When you hear a sound like marching feet." What a beautiful metaphorical description, depicting the tops of balsam trees as marching. It is as if God has His army anywhere and everywhere, ever ready to spring into action to aid his saints. THOUGHT - God's sending help when David cried out reminds me of Hebrews 2:18+ which says "since He Himself (JESUS) was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is (dunamai in present tense - continually) able to come to the aid of those who are (present tense - continually being) tempted (TESTED)." A critical part of this verse is the verb come to the aid, the Greek verb boetheo, which means to run to give aid upon hearing the cry or call for help! Can you see the implication? When the temptation (test) is attacking us, we need to cry out to Jesus, Who continually has the supernatural ability (able dunamai in present tense) to run to our aid! So....Cry out! Another THOUGHT - "There was a place for waiting, but a place also for action." (Baldwin) Today every believer in Christ must wait for and then obey the moving of the Holy Spirit with vigor. Do I have ears to hear and a heart to obey when I hear the Lord's the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees? See Henry Blackaby on joining God when He is moving. "When you hear and see evidence of God moving out, rouse yourself, and join Him. One of my prayers for 2023 is that God would open up my ears to hear the sound of His marching so that I can join him. For most of my life, I’ve done the opposite. I’ve assumed it’s my responsibility to fix everything, and seek his help. No, that’s his job. My job is to join him 5 in what he’s doing. At the end of the day, your greatest Strategy for Success = Submission." (J D Greear) Guzik makes a good point - After the first victory over the Philistines, David was wise enough to wait on the LORD before the second battle. It is easy for many in the same situation to say, “I’ve fought this battle before. I know how to win. This will be easy.” David always triumphed when he sought and obeyed God. In his commentary on this passage, Adam
2 Samuel 5
Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook - THERE are signs of the Lord’s moving which should move us. The Spirit of God blows where he listeth, and we hear the sound thereof. Then is the time for us to be more than ever astir. We must seize the golden opportunity, and make the most we can of it. It is ours to fight the Philistines at all times; but when the Lord himself goes out before us, then we should be specially valiant in the war. The breeze stirred the tops of the trees, and David and his men took this for the signal for an onslaught, and at their advance the Lord, himself, smote the Philistines. Oh, that this day the Lord may give us an opening to speak for him with many of our friends! Let us be on the watch to avail ourselves of the hopeful opening when it comes. Who knows but this may be a day of good tidings; a season of soul-winning. Let us keep our ear open to hear the rustle of the wind, and our minds ready to obey the signal. Is not this promise “then shall the Lord go out before thee,” a sufficient encouragement to play the man? Since the Lord goes before us, we dare not hold back. Spurgeon - Morning and Evening - The members of Christ’s Church should be very prayerful, always seeking the unction of the Holy One to rest upon their hearts, that the kingdom of Christ may come, and that his “will be done on earth, even as it is in heaven;” but there are times when God seems especially to favour Zion, such seasons ought to be to them like “the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees.” We ought then to be doubly prayerful, doubly earnest, wrestling more at the throne than we have been wont to do. Action should then be prompt and vigorous. The tide is flowing—now let us pull manfully for the shore. O for Pentecostal outpourings and Pentecostal labours. Christian, in yourself there are times “when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees.” You have a peculiar power in prayer; the Spirit of God gives you joy and gladness; the Scripture is open to you; the promises are applied; you walk in the light of God’s countenance; you have peculiar freedom and liberty in devotion, and more closeness of communion with Christ than was your wont. Now, at such joyous periods when you hear the “sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,” is the time to bestir yourself; now is the time to get rid of any evil habit, while God the Spirit helpeth your infirmities. Spread your sail; but remember what you sometimes sing— “I can only spread the sail; Thou! Thou! must breathe the auspicious gale.” Only be sure you have the sail up. Do not miss the gale for want of preparation for it. Seek help of God, that you may be more earnest in duty when made more strong in faith; that you may be more constant in prayer when you have more liberty at the throne; that you may be more holy in your conversation whilst you live more closely with Christ. Spurgeon - Act Promptly when you hear The sound in the mulberry trees - If any of your acquaintance have been in the house of God, if you have induced them to go there, and you think there is some little good doing but you do not know, take care of that little. It may be God has used us as a foster mother to bring up his child, so that this little one may be brought up in the faith, and this newly converted soul may be strengthened and edified. But I’ll tell you, many of you Christians do a deal of mischief, by what you say when going home. A man once said that when he was a lad he heard a certain sermon from a minister, and felt deeply impressed under it. Tears stole down his cheeks, and he thought within himself, “I will go home to pray.” On the road home he fell into the company of two members of the church. One of them began saying, “Well, how did you enjoy the sermon?” The other said, “I do not think he was quite sound on such a point.” “Well,” said the other, “I thought he was rather off his guard,” or something of that sort; and one pulled one part of the minister’s sermon to pieces, and another the other, until, said the young man, before I had gone many yards with them, I had forgotten all about it; and all the good I thought I had received seemed swept away by those two men, who seemed afraid lest I should get any hope, for they were just pulling that sermon to pieces which would have brought me to my knees. How often have we done the same! People will say, “What did you think of that sermon?” I gently tell them nothing at all, and if there is any fault in it—and very likely there is, it is better not to speak of it, for some may get good from it. THOUGHT - The preceding comments by