Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

CHAP. V.

THen came all the Tribes of Israel a to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy •…•…one, and thy fleshb.

2 Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out, and broughtest in Israel c; and the LORD said to thee d, Thou shalt feed my people Israel e, 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 f in Hebron before the LORD g: and they anointed David h king over Israel.

4 ¶ David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years i.

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 k to Jeru∣salem l unto the Jebusites m, 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 n: ‖ thinking, David cannot come in hither o.

7 Nevertheless, David took the strong hold of Zion o: the same is ‡ the city of David.

8 And David said on that day, Whosoever get∣teth up to the gutter p, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame, and the blind q, that are hated of Davids soul r, he shall be chief and captain s: ‖ wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house t.

9 So David dwelt in the fort, and called it, The city of David: and David built round about from Millo u, and inward.

10 ¶ And David ‡ went on, and grew great x, and the LORD God of hosts was with him.

11 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees y, and carpenters, and ‡ masons z, and they built David an house.

12 And David perceived a, that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israels sake.

13 ¶ And David took him moe concubines and wives b out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron, and there were yet sons and daugh∣ters born to David.

14 And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem: ‖ Shammua, and Sho∣bub, and Nathan, and Solomon.

15 Ibhar also, and ‖ Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhiah:

16 And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

17 ¶ But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel c, all the Phi∣listines came up to seek David d, and David heard of it, and went down to the hold e.

18 The Philistines also came and spread them∣selves in the valley of Rephim f.

19 And 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.

20 And David came to Baal-perazim g, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters h. Therefore he called the name of that place ‖ Baal-perazim.

21 ¶ And there they left their images i, and David and his men ‖ burnt them k.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again l, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up m: but fetch a com∣pass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulbery-trees n.

24 And let it be when thou hearest the sound of a going o in the tops of the mulbery-trees, that then thou shalt bestir they self p: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25 And David did so, as the LORD had com∣manded him, and smote the Philistines from Ge∣ba, until thou come to Gazer q.

Notes

• 1 Chron. 11. 1.
• a

  To wit, by their Ambassadors, Ishbosheth and Abner being now dead; and that without David's concurrence.
• b

  i. e. Thy Brethren, or Kinsmen, of the same Nation and Paren∣tage, though not of the same Tribe; and therefore, as Gods Law, Deut. 17. 15. permits us, so our own relation and affection inclines us to choose thee for our King; and we doubt not thou wilt receive us for thy Subjects and Peo∣ple, and Pardon our Offences against thee.
• 1 Sam. 18. 13.
• c

  Thou wast our Chief Commander in our Expeditions against the Philistines, and therefore art most fit to be King over us.
• d

  To wit, by Samuel, 1 Sam. 16. 11, 12, 13. for though the words vary, yet the sence is the same.
• Psal. 78. 71.
• e

  i. e. Rule them, and take care of them, as a Shepherd doth of his Sheep, Psal. 78. 70, 71. This Expression he useth to ad∣monish David, that he was not made a King to advance his own Glory and Interest, but for the good and benefit of his People; and that he ought to Rule them with all tenderness, and to watch over them with all diligence.
• f

  Whereby David obliged himself to rule them accor∣ding to God's Laws; and the People promised Fidelity and Obedience to him.
• g

  Either, 1. Before the Ark; which might be here, though that be not mentioned in this place. Or, 2. Before the Priest clothed with the Ephod; whereby he was in a manner put into God's Presence. Or rather, 3. In the congregation of the mighty, or Magistrates, where God used to be present, Psal. 82. 1. in the Publick Assem∣bly now met together in God's name and fear, and as in his Presence to call upon him, to appeal to him as the Wit∣ness and Judge of their Transactions. Compare Iudg. 11. 11. 1 Sam. 23. 18.
• h

  Either by a Prophet, or the Priest, to whom this Office belonged. See 2 Sam. 2. 4.
• i

  And some odd Months, as it follows.
• Chap. 2. 11.
• k

  Having the advantage of so great a confluence of his People to make him King, he thought fit to begin his Reign with some eminent Action, and to lead them forth in this Expedition. Wherein doubtless he asked Advice from God, and the consent of the Elders now present.
• l

  As the place which God had designed for his Worship; and in the Cen∣ter and Heart of his Kingdom, and therefore fittest for his Royal City.
• m

  Who continued to dwell there in spight of the Benjamites, to whose lot it fell. See Iosh. 15. 63. Iudg. 1. 21. and 19. 10, 11.
• ‖

  Or, except one remove from thee.
• n

  Or, thou shalt not come in hither, but the blind and the lame shall remove or hinder thee. By the blind and the lame they understand, either, 1. Their own People; and so they imply, that the Place was so Impreg∣nable, that a few Blind and Lame men were able to Defend it against all David's Assaults. And these may be called, and were the hated of David's soul, v. 8. Not because they were blind and lame, but because they were Iebusites, a People hated and accursed by God: and the Iebusites of this place were more hateful to him, than the rest of that Na∣tion; partly, because they Possessed this Place, which David knew was designed for the one and onely Place of God's Solenm Worship; and partly, because they did so wickedly and insolently defie the Armies of Israel, and consequently, the God of Israel. Or 2. Their gods or images; which, af∣ter the manner of the Heathens, they Worshipped as their tutelary gods, and placed in their Gates or Walls. These they call blind and lame sarcastically, and with respect to David's opinion; as if they said, These gods of ours, whom you Israelites Reproach, as Blind and Lame, Psal. 115. 5, 6. and so unable to direct and protect us, they will de∣fend us against you; and you will find, they are neither Blind, nor Lame, but have Eyes to watch for us, and Hands to Fight against you; and you must Conquer them, before you can take our City. And these may well be called, the hated of David's soul. But I prefer the former sence, as be∣ing most easie, and natural, and proper; whereas, the lat∣ter is Metaphorical, and seems doubtful and forced.
• ‖

  Or, saying,
• o

  Con∣cluding their Fort to be Impregnable.
• o

  Either, 1. A very strong Fort which they had built up∣on Mount Sion; which being taken, the City quickly yield∣ed. Or, 2. The City of Zion, which was very strongly Fortified.
• ‡

  Now 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• p

  i. e. Whosoever Scaleth the Fort, or getteth up to the top of it, where the Gutter was.
• q

  Or even, or especially (for the Hebrew Particle Vau, signifies both ways) the lame and the blind: i. e. Those of them who are set to Defend that Place; who, as they pretend, should be onely the Lame, and the Blind. Others understand it, of their Idols, or Ima∣ges. But they could not properly be said to be smitten, i. e. Killed; as that Word is used here, and elsewhere.
• r

  This belongs to the Iebusite, and the lame, and the blind; and it is explained in v. 6.
• 1 Chron. 11. 6.
• s

  These words are fitly supplyed out of 1 Chron. 11. 6. where they are expressed; and they must needs be understood to make the sence compleat. And such Ellipses or defects of a part of the Sentence, are usual in Promises and Oaths, and Conditional Offers, such as this was.
• ‖

  Or, because they had 〈◊〉〈◊〉, even the blind and the lame, he shall not come into the house.
• t

  i. e. Whence it became a Proverb, or a common saying, used by David, and others, upon this occasion: or otherwise, The blind and the lame Iebusites •…•…ere set to keep the House: i. e. The Fort of Zion; and to keep others from coming into it; but now they are shut out of it, and none of them, to wit, either, 1. Of the Iebusites; or, 2. Of Blind and Lame persons, shall be admitted to come in∣to it again. Which David might resolve, and ordain, to keep up the memory of this great Exploit, and of the In∣solent Carriage of the Iebusites, and their unhappy Suc∣cess. Or, the blind and the lame shall not come into my house: to wit, Into the King's Palace. And although this might be a general Rule and Decree of David's, yet he might dispense with it in some special cases, as in that of Mephibosheth. But it is not necessary, that this should be a Proverb; for the Words may be thus rendred, as it is in the Margent of our Bible, because they had said, even the blind and the lame, he (i. e. David) shall not come into the house: or, because they (i. e. the Jebusites) had said, the blind and the lame shall hinder him; (which Words are easily supplied out of v. 6. where having spoken of this more largely, it was sufficient here to mention the most Em∣phatical Words, as is usual in such Cases;) He shall not come into the house, or hither; as they say, v. 6. i. e. Into the Fort: for the Word house is used very largely and ge∣nerally in the Hebrew Language, for any place; as Iudg. 16. 21.
• u

  Which seems to have been some large and well forti∣fied Building, Iudg. 9. 6. 2 Chron. 3. 5. adjoyning, or near to the wall of the City of Zion.
• ‡

  Heb. went going and growing.
• x

  In reputation and power.
• 1 King. 5. 2. 1 Chron. 14. 1.
• y

  For Lebanon, which was famous for its Cedars, was, a great part of it, in his Dominion.
• ‡

  Heb. hewers of the stone of the wall.
• z

  For the Tyrians were excellent Artists and Workmen; as both Sacred and Pro∣fane Writers agree.
• a

  By reflecting upon the Promises which God had made him, and the constant course of Gods Providence favou∣ring him.
• 1 Chron. 3. 9. and 14. 3.
• b

  This may well be reckon'd amongst David's miscarria∣ges, the multiplication of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being expresly forbidden to the King, Deut. 17. 17. The use of seems to have been his Policy, that hereby he might enlarge his Family, and strengthen his Interest by Alliances with so many considera∣ble Families. And the number of Wives being not limited, Deut. 17. he might conceive this was no Transgression of that Law.
• 1 Chron. 3. 5.
• ‖

  Or, Shimea.
• ‖

  Or, Elisha∣ma.
• 1 Chron. 11. 16. and 14. 8.
• c

  Whilst the Civil War lasted between the Houses of Saul and David, they wisely forbore all Hostilites, and left them to tear out one anothers Bowels, that afterwards they might make a more easie Conquest of both. But that being ended, and all united under David, they bestir them∣selves.
• d

  To find him out, and fight against him, and cut him off now in the Infancy of his Kingdom. Whereby they give David a just occasion to fight against them for his own necessary Defence, and acquit him from any note of In∣gratitude, in opposing them who had formerly exercised kind∣ness and Hospitality to him. Though indeed David's Ob∣ligations were in a manner wholly to Achish, who seems to he dead at this time, there being no mention of him.
• e

  To some fortified place to which his people might conveniently resort from all places, and where he might intrench his Ar∣my, and which lay towards the Philistines.
• f

  Or, of the Giants: which lay Westward from Ierusalem, and so was the ready way to Ierusalem, which it seems they designed to take.
• Isa. 28. 21.
• g

  Whither the Philistines were come from the Valley of Rephaim, 1 Chron. 14. 11.
• h

  As Floods or Rivers of Waters, which break the Banks, and overflow a Land, and overturn all that stands in their way.
• ‖

  That is, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of brea∣•…•….
• i

  Which they seem to have brought into the Field to Figh•…•… for them, as the Israelites had formerly done the Ark.
• 1 Chron. 14. 12.
• ‖

  Or, took them away.
• k

  As God had commanded, Deut. 7. 5.
• l

  Doubtless with greater Force, as those that saw their All lay at stake.
• m

  To wit, directly against them, as the following words explain it.
• n

  Where they least expect thee; Gods purposes and Promises do not exclude Mens just endeavours, but re∣quire them.
• o

  A noise as it were of persons walking upon the tops of them, which I shall cause; and by this sign, both thou shalt be assured that I am coming to help thee; and the Philistines shall be affrighted and amused, and not perceive the noise of thy Army, until thou art upon them.
• p

  Do thou fall upon them.
• q

  They followed their Victory, and pursued them to their own Borders, in which Gazer was, as Iosephus re∣lates.