2 Samuel 5:17-25
Evangelical Heritage Version
David Defeats the Philistines
17 The Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel. So all the Philistines went up to search for David. David, however, heard about it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines came and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 David asked the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?”
The Lord said to David, “Go up, because I will certainly deliver the Philistines into your hand.”
20 So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated them there. He said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a wall of water.” That is why he named that place Baal Perazim.[a] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.
22 The Philistines came up again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 David inquired of the Lord, who said, “Do not go directly at them. Go around to their rear. Come upon them opposite the balsam trees.[b] 24 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then get ready, because then the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him. He struck the Philistines from Gibeon[c] all the way to Gezer.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 5:20 Baal Perazim means lord of breakthroughs.
- 2 Samuel 5:23 The identification of the trees is uncertain. Other suggestions are mulberry trees, aspens, or mastic trees.
- 2 Samuel 5:25 The reading Gibeon is supported by the Greek Old Testament, by the parallel text in 1 Chronicles 14:16, and by the geography of the campaign. The reading of the Hebrew text is Geba.
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.