The big picture
2 Samuel 5 opens in verse 1 with “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from…”, and closes in verse 25 with “And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba…” Repeated or prominent terms include David, LORD, Israel, king, Philistines. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 252 Samuel 5:1-7
1–7: Came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying…
2 Samuel 5:1–7 opens with “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy…” and reaches “Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 5 develops its own movement around David, LORD, Israel, king, Philistines, with particular weight carried by David, Israel, king.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.” Naming David and Hebron keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD…” Naming Israel and Also keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 5:1-7
King James Version1Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD : and they anointed David king over Israel.
4David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
7Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
2 Samuel 5:8-14
8–14: David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth…
2 Samuel 5:8–14 opens with “And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and…” and reaches “And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 5 develops its own movement around David, LORD, Israel, king, Philistines, with particular weight carried by David, blind, born.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
2 Samuel 5:8-14
King James Version8And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.
9So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.
11And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
12And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
13And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.
14And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,
2 Samuel 5:15-21
15–21: Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
2 Samuel 5:15–21 opens with “Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,” and reaches “And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 5 develops its own movement around David, LORD, Israel, king, Philistines, with particular weight carried by David, Philistines, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,” Naming Elishua and Ibhar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.” Naming Eliada and Eliphalet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 5:15-21
King James Version15Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
16And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.
17But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
18The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19And David enquired of the LORD , saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
20And David came to Baal-perazim, 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 Baal-perazim.
21And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
2 Samuel 5:22-25
22–25: The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley…
2 Samuel 5:22–25 opens with “And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.” and reaches “And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 5 develops its own movement around David, LORD, Israel, king, Philistines, with particular weight carried by LORD, Philistines, David.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.” Naming Philistines and Rephaim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 5:22-25
King James Version22And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23And 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.
24And 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.
25And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 5:1 begins with “Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 5:17 forms a natural hinge: “But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went…”
The final note
2 Samuel 5:25 leaves the reader with “And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words David, LORD, Israel, king, Philistines, Hebron help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does the repeated ending make readers feel?
Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.
What two interruptions offer hope?
Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.