A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Biblical tract · Volume 2 · Commentary on 2 Samuel · Chapter 5
2 Sam. CHAP. V.
THis Chapter is a Narrative how David came to be King over Iſrael as well as over Judah, and that without the aſſiſtance of Abner, or the treachery of thoſe two late executed Traitors; the Lord ſtirring up the hearts of all the Tribes to come unto David in Hebron, and to Anoint him King over them, and bleſſing David with ſucceſs in the beginning of his Kingdom over all the Tribes &c. Remarks upon this Chapter are,
Firſt, The Free Choice of David to be King over all the Kingdom of Iſrael by the Elders of every Tribe, making a League with him in Hebron, v. 1, 2, 3. wherein they conſtitute him King by Ʋnction, not only as neer a kin to them, but becauſe he had been a moſt ſucceſsful Captain over them, and all this was done ſolemnly before the Lord, Swearing reciprocally on both ſides in God's preſence, whereby David on his part obliged himſelf to Rule the People according to God's Law, and the People on their part promiſed Allegiance and Fidelity to David as their Liege Lord and Lawful Sovereign.
The Second Remark is, Both the time of David's Age at this his Coronation, and the time of his Reign in all, v. 4, 5. where 'tis ſaid he was thirty years old when he began to Reign, and he Reigned ſeven years over Judah, and thirty three years (after the round number) over all Iſrael. David is held forth as a Type of Chriſt here in ſeveral Reſpects, as,
Mark Firſt, Iſrael ſtood out long in oppoſition to David, but at laſt come in and ſubmit to his Government; ſo all Nations, Jews and Gentiles (after a long reluctancy) ſhall at laſt ſubmit to Chriſt's Scepter; Christ as David had both a Kingdom of Patience, Revel. 1.9. & 3.10. and a Kingdom of Power: When this latter comes, all his People ſhall be willing in the day of his power, Pſal. 110.3. and then ſhall the Gentiles flock like Doves to the Windows of his Temple, Iſa 60.8. and he will graciouſly receive them, Hoſ. 14.2.
Mark Secondly, Iſrael ſaid to David [behold we are thy bone and thy fleſh] ſo Chriſt is our Goel, Hebr. our neer Kinſman, our Redeemer, we may well claim Kindred, ſeeing by his Incarnation he is become bone of our bone, and fleſh of our fleſh, and is not aſhamed to call us Brethren, Hebr. 2.11.15.18. he is the Head of that Body whereof we are Members, Eph. 5.30. and we may boldly ſay, he is that near Kinſman of ours, that Redeemed Mortgaged Heaven for us, &c. Ruth 3.9. & 4.6, 8, 9. & Jer. 32.7.
Mark Thirdly, As Iſrael calls David their Shepherd in time of Peace, and their Captain in time of War, ſo no leſs is Christ to his Church (call'd the Iſrael of God, Gal. 6.16.) in both thoſe Titles he is our good Shepherd that leads us into green paſtures, &c. Pſal. 23.1, 2, 3. Joh. 10.3, 4, 10, 11. and he is the Captain of our Salvation in our Spiritural Warfare, Heb. 2.10, 11. our King, Ruler, and Law-giver, Pſal. 2.6▪ Iſa. 33.22, &c.
Mark Fourthly, As the Congruity and Parity betwixt the Type and the Antitype runs in parallel lines both as to Conqueſt, at the laſt, near alliance in Kindred, and in Titles of Honour, ſo in their three-fold Unction alſo; for as David was three times Anointed, (1.) by Samuel, 1 Sam. 16.13. The (2.) by the Tribe of Judah, 2 Sam. 2.5. And the (3.) here by all Iſrael; even ſo Chriſt had firſt his Secret Ʋnction being born by the overſhadowings of the Holy Spirit, ſo was ſaid to be Anointed, Pſal. 2.6, 7. With the Oyl of Gladneſs above his Fellows, Pſal. 45.7. Secondly, At his Baptiſm, when the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove did Anoint him and Proclaim him King alſo; Mat. 3.16, 17. and again, Thirdly, At his Transfiguration, Mat. 17.5. &c.
Mark Fifthly, The Parallel holds a parity in the Age of their lives alſo; for as 'tis expreſly ſaid here that David began to execute his Kingly Office at the Age of thirty years, v. 4 even ſo was Christ of the ſame Age when he entred upon his Kingdom, Luke 3.22, 23. and had the double Kingdom of Patience and of Power as David.
N. B. A Sixth Parallel is added by Angelomus, ſaying, David Reigned four tens, which ſignified fulneſs and perfection of times and things, this alſo is moſt applicable to the Kingdom of Chriſt, &c.
The Third Remark is, David's Conqueſt of the Tower of Zion for his Royal Palace at Jeruſalem, v. 6.7, 8, 9. wherein,
Mark Firſt, The Opportunity David takes for this Expedition: He had now an Army of Three Hundred Thouſand Brave Men well Armed, &c. as they are ſummed up, 1 Chron. 12.23. to v. 40. Feaſting three days with David at his Coronation; David was loath to loſe ſo happy a Seaſon, when ſo well fitted and furniſhed for any Noble Exploit; hereupon he marches away from Hebron to Jeruſalem, deſigning to make it his Metropolis, but yet could not, becauſe the Jebuſites ſtill held the Tower of Sion there, Judg. 1.23. and ſtill in the time of the wandring Levite, Judg. 19.10, 11. therefore David began his Auſpicious Reign with this Eminent Action of Beſieging this ſtrongly fortified Tower, being a neſt of many infamous Perſons, and ſuch as boaſted ſo in their impregnable Fort, that they ſcoffed at David in his undertaking to take it from them, ſaying, [the Blind and the Lame were ſufficient to defend it,] which ſome interpret.
Firſt, Their Idols whom David had ridicul'd or derided, as Gods that have eyes and ſee not, hands and act not, feet and walk not, &c. Pſal. 115.5, 6. as if they had ſaid, thou David reproaches our Tutelar Daemons, as if they could neither direct nor protect us, but we will ſet thoſe our Images in the front againſt thee, and we bid thee defiance; they will defend us well enough though we ſtrike not one ſtroke for our own defence. Theſe might well be the hated of David's Soul, as v. 8.
N. B. Some ſay (as Paraeus reporteth) that they were the Images of blind Iſaac, and of lame Jacob, in contempt of thoſe Holy Patriarchs, or to mind them of the Covenant betwixt Abraham and Abimelech, Gen. 21.27.32. Theſe are but Suppoſitions; but
Secondly, The literal ſenſe ſeems moſt natural and leſs forced than the former which is metaphorical only; for thoſe inſolent Jebuſites were ſo confident of the invincible ſtrength of their Tower (ſo well fortified both by Nature and Art) that they verily thought a few really Blind and Lame Perſons would be powerful enough to protect it againſt all David's Aſſaults.
Now theſe might be the hated of David's Soul, not becauſe they were Blind and Lame (for ſo they were undoubtedly the Objects of David's Compaſſion, as was lame Mephiboſheth, and Senſe-failing Barzillai, &c.) but becauſe they were Jebuſites accurſed of God, and ſuch as were ſet up to deride David's Army, and to defie the God of Iſrael; yea (worſt of all) to defend this place which God had deſigned for the place of his Worſhip in the Temple, &c.
Mark Secondly, The Action of taking this Fort, the carnal Confidence of thoſe Curſed Jebuſites did not weaken but rather waken David's Courage; nor did their ſcornful Scoffs ſo much diſcourage, but rather did enrage both him and his Army; for no ſooner had David propos'd his Royal Offer [that whoever getteth up to the Gutter ſhould be his General] v. 8.1. Chron. 11.6. but preſently Joab accepts of the Exploit, and finds followers enough to Conquer it by Scaling.
N. B. This Bold and Daring Enterprize Joab was obliged to manage with more undaunted Gallantry, to redeem his loſt Reputation with King David, who had lately ſo dreadfully Curſed both his Perſon and Poſterity for his ſordid murthering of Prince Abner under a colour of Friendſhip, before this famous fact of ſtorming this ſtrong Fort; Joab was one of David's Chief Captains, and General of the Forces of Judah, Chap. 3.22, 23. but now for confuting the carnal confidence of thoſe curſed Idolaters, he is made Captain General of all the Forces of Iſrael and Judah; and when this Tower was taken, the City ſoon yielded to David, which he repaired in that part that he call'd the City of David, but Joab (out of the generoſity of his new Generalſhip) repaired other parts, 1 Chron. 11.8.
The Fourth Remark is, The Contrary Events that David's Settlement over the Kingdom of Iſrael in the Metropolitan City (Jeruſalem,) produced; namely, The Congratulation of the Tyrians towards him, v. 10, 11, &c. And the Emulation of the Philiſtines againſt him, v. 17, 18, 19, to the end. The firſt is the Amicable Reſentment that Hiram King of Tyre made of David's preſent Proſperity: He hearing of David's Valour, and Vertues, and of his growth and greatneſs in glory, (which could not otherways be Becauſe the Lord of Hoſts was with him, v. 10.) the fame hereof did ſo far prevail with this King's truly noble mind, that (as Lavater tell us,) he wrote a moſt Loving Letter to David, wherein he expreſſed much Candour and Kindneſs towards him: This Letter, (with David's Anſwer to it) were both extant in Joſephus's time. However The Scripture of Truth tells us, that this Hiram was ſo candid a King to David, that he ſent Embaſſadour to him with Cedar Trees from Lebanon, (a great part whereof lay in that King's Countrey) and Carpenters to build him an Houſe:
N. B. For David had demoliſhed the Old Fort (after he had ſlain all the Jebuſites that had defiled it with their Idolatry) ſave only Araunah, (ſaith Joſephus) who afterward proved a kind friend to David, chap. 24.18, 22. When he became a Proſelyte to God's true Worſhip.
N. B. To this New Houſe David gave a new Name, that all the Monuments of abomination in the Old Houſe might utterly be aboliſhed; and perhaps the Blind and Lame were interdicted entrance into David's Royal Palace; not out of pride and ſtate (as that of the Perſian King's interdiction, Eſth. 4.2.) but that it might be a laſting memorial of this famous Victory: Nor was this Rule ſo general, as to admit of no exceptions, for Lame Mephiboſheth was admitted upon another account, that he might be a ſtanding Remembrancer of David's dear Friend Jonathan. It could not but be ſome content to David in demonſtrating his favour to a Lame living Son, in thankfulneſs to his now deceaſed Father.
N. B. We may ſuppoſe that while all Iſrael was with David at Jeruſalem, David conſulted with the Chief Captains about a convenient time for fetching up the Ark, 1 Chron. 13.1, 2, 3, 4. and until that appointed time all the Tribes went to their own homes. After their departure Hiram ſends betimes to enter Amity with him, and to build him an Houſe to Live in; and then it was that David multiplied his Marriages (contrary to God's Law, Deut. 17.17.) to build up himſelf a living Houſe, v. 13, 14, 15, 16. and 1 Chron. 14.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. This David did to enlarge his Family, and to encreaſe his Alliances with ſo many conſiderable Families; yet may it well be reckoned amongſt David's miſcarriages: For beſide his leaping over the Pale of God's Law, in Multiplying his Wives to ſtrengthen himſelf in the Kingdom as above, he was afterward puniſhed in his Concubines. He was made, (ſaith Peter Martyr) to Vomit them up again which he had ſwallowed down with ſo much delight, chap. 20.3. 'Tis no good policy to break God's precepts upon any pretence.
The Fifth Remark is, The Second Event of David's Inauguration over all Iſrael, namely, The Emulation of the Philiſtines, who hearing of David's ſplendid Coronation (quite contrary to the Tyrians) looked upon David's ſettlement with an envious Eye, and took this timely opportunity when all the Armies of Iſrael were returned home, and before Jeruſalem was fully fortified, they came once and again to the Valley of Rephaim (which lies near Jeruſalem) to catch David at unawares, but he beats them back with a ſore ſlaughter both times, v. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 1 Chron. 14.7. to the end. Wherein Mark,
(1.) The Philiſtines had not ſtirred againſt Iſrael during their Civil-Wars betwixt the the Houſe of Saul and the Houſe of David; they craftily forbore all acts of Hoſtility thoſe Seven Years, hoping they would deſtroy one another, and ſo make for them a more eaſie Conqueſt of both: But now all being ended and Amicably compoſed unanimouſly under David, they began to fear his growing greatneſs, eſpecially by Hiram a rich King of a Neighbour-Nation, now entred into a League with him; they thought it now high time to beſtir themſelves (which they durſt not do before, for fear of making both parties of Iſrael and Judah to unite againſt a common Enemy-Invading their Land) but now they muſt pluck up this new plant before it were too much fortified both at root and top, &c.
Mark (2.) It may be ſuppoſed that Achiſh King of the Philiſtines (who had been ſo kind to David in the time of his baniſhment by Saul) was now Dead, for we read not one word of him in this expedition, wherein 'tis ſaid [That all the Philiſtines came to find him out, and fight againſt him;] or if yet alive, the other Four Lords of the Philiſtines over-ruled him now, as they had done in Caſhiering David and his Men out of their Army, when he had Ziklag beſtowed upon him.
Mark (3.) So tender was the Lord of his Servant David's Reputation and Honour that the Philiſtines muſt firſt Invade him, and not he them, leſt they ſhould have for ſo, doing baſely branded him with the brand of Ingratitude to Invade them firſt, who had given him ſuch Courteous entertainment in the times of his troubles: He will not therefore be the firſt Aggreſſor.
Mark (4.) David ſecures his Forces in the Cave of Addullam, till he had conſulted God by Abiathar; which being done, with God's warrant he falls upon the Philiſtines in the Valley of Giants, and ſmote them with as much facility as a Man can ſcatter weak Waters with his Foot or Finger; hence David called the place of this Victory Baal perazim, The Lord of Breaches.
Mark (5.) Theſe Philiſtines had brought their Images into the Field to fight for them, in hope of help by them; perhaps in imitation of the Hebrews who had formerly frighted them with their Ark among their Army, 1 Sam. 4 6, 7, 8. thoſe Mawmets they left behind in their praepoſterous flight to ſave their Lives, or out of contempt, becauſe they had helpt them to no better Succeſs; David takes and burns them as God had commanded, Deut 7.5, 25. 1 Chron. 14.12.
Mark (6.) Thoſe Fool-hardy Philiſtines will needs ſtumble the ſecond time upon the ſame ſtone, ſpreading themſelves again in the valley of Giants, doubtleſs with greater force. v. 22. as if they had been of the Race of thoſe Old Giants who waged War againſt God himſelf: David ſtill (not fluſh'd witht he former Victory) depends upon God for Direction: God Directs David not to fight them by open War as in the firſt, but now to uſe a ſtratagem of Fetching a compaſs, v. 23. God's Promiſe muſt be truſted, yet the beſt means muſt be uſed, [Come on them unawares, &c]
Mark Laſtly, The Seaſon of David's Acting: God muſt go before, and Man muſt follow after, [When thou heareſt the ſound of a going on the tops of the Mulberry Trees, then fall on, v. 24.] Such a ſound as utterly frighted the Syrians, 2 King. 7.6. ſhall now fright the Philiſtines: The ſound of a ſhaking Leafe ſhall chaſe them, Levit. 26.36. [Then ſhall the Lord go out before thee.] God the Father ſpeaks this of God the Son, the Captain of Salvation, Joſh. 5.14. Heb. 2.10, &c. David did ſo, and Defeated them the ſecond time, and purſued them home, which he did not do in the firſt Defeat, v. 25.
N. B. Note well, Oh! that we could mind the motions of Chriſt's Spirit in our Spiritual warfare when he lifts up his Standard, Iſa. 59.19. Theſe are the ſounds of God's goings, Pſal, 89.51. then is the Conquering time.