1. Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2. Also 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.
3. So 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.
4. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
5. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.
6. And 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 can not come in hither.
7. Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David.
8. And 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.
9. So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.
10. And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.
11. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons; and they built David an house.
12. And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.
Golden Text: “David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.” 2 Sam. 5:10.
Note.—The various causes that led to making David king over all Israel are set forth in the second, third, and fourth chapters of 2 Samuel. Briefly, they are as follows: Ish-bosheth had no ability to unite the fragments of the kingdom, and the cause of religion was in a low state. He accused Abner of treachery, and this charge caused Abner to turn against him, and make overtures to David, who had always proved victorious in the lingering warfare between Judah and Israel. David immediately demanded the restoration to him of Michal, Saul’s daughter, his first wife. This was done, and he thereby gained a hold upon the northern people as an heir of Saul. And lastly, both Abner and Ish-bosheth were foully murdered, without wish or connivance of David, who repudiated the acts openly and indignantly. There was now left but one heir to Saul, the son of Jonathan, a lame lad, whom David afterward cared for. These were the political changes, but behind it all was the purpose of God to bring David to the throne. A parallel passage is 1 Chronicles 11, 12, and 14.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Who came to David at Hebron? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) How many and what reasons did they give for choosing David king? Verses 1, 2. Note 2. (3) How was the matter of his rulership established? Verse 3. (4) How old was David when he began to reign, and how long did his rule continue? Verse 4. (5) How was this rule divided? Verse 5. (6) Where did David and his men go? Verse 6. (7) What did the Jebusites say? Same verse. Note 3. (8) What success did David have in his undertaking? Verse 7. (9) How was the stronghold taken? Verse 8. Note 4. (10) Where did David dwell? What did he call the place? What improvements did he make? Verse 9. Note 5. (11) How did David prosper? Verse 10. (12) Who formed a trading alliance with him? Verse 11. (13) What did he perceive? Verse 12. Note 6.
NOTES.
1. Then came all the tribes.—They came by their elders (verse 3), representing, according to 1 Chron. 12:23–40, 339,600 warriors.
2. Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh, etc.—This was the beginning of reasons that they could now see, when it was evident that David was surely coming to the throne. He was a blood relation of the people, and of the royal line by marriage. Thou wast he that leddest out.—His generalship, skill, wisdom, forbearance, courage, knowledge of men, and trust in God were all well known and recognized. The Lord said to thee.—They knew he was divinely appointed. Thou shalt feed my people, literally, thou shalt shepherd my people; and David, from experience, knew the true meaning of this.
3. The Jebusites.—At that time Jerusalem was called Jebus. Political, civil, and military considerations pointed to Jerusalem as the most suitable capital for the united kingdom. Its position was just within the borders of Judah, but close to the border of the northern kingdom; hence the location would conciliate all parties, and prove a bond of union. As a military post it was unrivaled, standing on a rocky plateau surrounded on three sides by deep ravines, forming a natural fortress. But the fortress of Mount Zion, the highest point, was held by the Jebusites, who thus controlled the city, while other portions were inhabited by Jews and Canaanites in common. At that time the valleys were deeper than at present, and the lame and blind were commonly spoken of as sufficient to defend the heights. However, this choice of a capital was made by David under divine direction. See Deut. 12:5–21; 1 Kings 11:36.
4. Whosoever getteth up to the gutter.—This was the water course, and probably the point least defended. Joab and a few men were the first to make the ascent. See 1 Chron. 11:6.
5. Built round about.—He probably completed the defenses of the city on its exposed side, the north.
6. David perceived, etc.—The point to be noted is that David recognized the Lord’s hand in all his prosperity, and that he was not raised to the throne for his own good or glory, but for “his people Israel’s sake.” His humility and meekness made him great. This is not usually the attitude of those in power, but it will be noted that from a youth up, when occupying the most humble positions, David maintained this relation with God. Faithfulness wherever the Lord places one is the true secret of success.
