11 And Hiram H2438 king H4428 of Tyre H6865 sent H7971 messengers H4397 to David, H1732 and cedar H730 trees, H6086 and carpenters, H2796 and masons: H7023 H68 and they built H1129 David H1732 an house. H1004
And Hiram H2438 king H4428 of Tyre H6865 sent H7971 his servants H5650 unto Solomon; H8010 for he had heard H8085 that they had anointed H4886 him king H4428 in the room of his father: H1 for Hiram H2438 was ever H3117 a lover H157 of David. H1732 And Solomon H8010 sent H7971 to Hiram, H2438 saying, H559
And Hiram H2438 sent H7971 to Solomon, H8010 saying, H559 I have considered H8085 the things which thou sentest H7971 to me for: and I will do H6213 all thy desire H2656 concerning timber H6086 of cedar, H730 and concerning timber H6086 of fir. H1265 My servants H5650 shall bring them down H3381 from Lebanon H3844 unto the sea: H3220 and I will convey H7760 them by sea H3220 in floats H1702 unto the place H4725 that thou shalt appoint H7971 me, and will cause them to be discharged H5310 there, and thou shalt receive H5375 them: and thou shalt accomplish H6213 my desire, H2656 in giving H5414 food H3899 for my household. H1004 So Hiram H2438 gave H5414 Solomon H8010 cedar H730 trees H6086 and fir H1265 trees H6086 according to all his desire. H2656
But Solomon H8010 was building H1129 his own house H1004 thirteen H7969 H6240 years, H8141 and he finished H3615 all his house. H1004 He built H1129 also the house H1004 of the forest H3293 of Lebanon; H3844 the length H753 thereof was an hundred H3967 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 thereof fifty H2572 cubits, H520 and the height H6967 thereof thirty H7970 cubits, H520 upon four H702 rows H2905 of cedar H730 pillars, H5982 with cedar H730 beams H3773 upon the pillars. H5982 And it was covered H5603 with cedar H730 above H4605 upon the beams, H6763 that lay on forty H705 five H2568 pillars, H5982 fifteen H6240 in a row. H2905 And there were windows H8261 in three H7969 rows, H2905 and light H4237 was against light H4237 in three H7969 ranks. H6471 And all the doors H6607 and posts H4201 were square, H7251 with the windows: H8260 and light H4237 was against H4136 light H4237 in three H7969 ranks. H6471 And he made H6213 a porch H197 of pillars; H5982 the length H753 thereof was fifty H2572 cubits, H520 and the breadth H7341 thereof thirty H7970 cubits: H520 and the porch H197 was before H6440 them: and the other pillars H5982 and the thick beam H5646 were before them. Then he made H6213 a porch H197 for the throne H3678 where he might judge, H8199 even the porch H197 of judgment: H4941 and it was covered H5603 with cedar H730 from one side of the floor H7172 to the other. H7172 And his house H1004 where he dwelt H3427 had another H312 court H2691 within H1004 the porch, H197 which was of the like work. H4639 Solomon H8010 made H6213 also an house H1004 for Pharaoh's H6547 daughter, H1323 whom he had taken H3947 to wife, like unto this porch. H197 All these were of costly H3368 stones, H68 according to the measures H4060 of hewed stones, H1496 sawed H1641 with saws, H4050 within H1004 and without, H2351 even from the foundation H4527 unto the coping, H2947 and so on the outside H2351 toward the great H1419 court. H2691 And the foundation H3245 was of costly H3368 stones, H68 even great H1419 stones, H68 stones H68 of ten H6235 cubits, H520 and stones H68 of eight H8083 cubits. H520 And above H4605 were costly H3368 stones, H68 after the measures H4060 of hewed stones, H1496 and cedars. H730 And the great H1419 court H2691 round about H5439 was with three H7969 rows H2905 of hewed stones, H1496 and a row H2905 of cedar H730 beams, H3773 both for the inner H6442 court H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and for the porch H197 of the house. H1004
I made me great H1431 works; H4639 I builded H1129 me houses; H1004 I planted H5193 me vineyards: H3754 I made H6213 me gardens H1593 and orchards, H6508 and I planted H5193 trees H6086 in them of all kind of fruits: H6529 I made H6213 me pools H1295 of water, H4325 to water H8248 therewith the wood H3293 that bringeth forth H6779 trees: H6086 I got H7069 me servants H5650 and maidens, H8198 and had servants born H1121 in my house; H1004 also I had great H7235 possessions H4735 of great H1241 and small cattle H6629 above all that were in Jerusalem H3389 before H6440 me: I gathered H3664 me also silver H3701 and gold, H2091 and the peculiar treasure H5459 of kings H4428 and of the provinces: H4082 I gat H6213 me men singers H7891 and women singers, H7891 and the delights H8588 of the sons H1121 of men, H120 as musical instruments, H7705 H7705 and that of all sorts. So I was great, H1431 and increased H3254 more than all that were before H6440 me in Jerusalem: H3389 also my wisdom H2451 remained H5975 with me. And whatsoever mine eyes H5869 desired H7592 I kept H680 not from them, I withheld H4513 not my heart H3820 from any joy; H8057 for my heart H3820 rejoiced H8056 in all my labour: H5999 and this was my portion H2506 of all my labour. H5999 Then I looked H6437 on all the works H4639 that my hands H3027 had wrought, H6213 and on the labour H5999 that I had laboured H5998 to do: H6213 and, behold, all was vanity H1892 and vexation H7469 of spirit, H7307 and there was no profit H3504 under the sun. H8121
That saith, H559 I will build H1129 me a wide H4060 house H1004 and large H7304 chambers, H5944 and cutteth him out H7167 windows; H2474 and it is cieled H5603 with cedar, H730 and painted H4886 with vermilion. H8350 Shalt thou reign, H4427 because thou closest H8474 thyself in cedar? H730 did not thy father H1 eat H398 and drink, H8354 and do H6213 judgment H4941 and justice, H6666 and then it was well H2896 with him? He judged H1777 the cause H1779 of the poor H6041 and needy; H34 then it was well H2896 with him: was not this to know H1847 me? saith H5002 the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 5
Commentary on 2 Samuel 5 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 5
2Sa 5:1-5. The Tribes Anoint David King over Israel.
1, 2. Then came all the tribes of Israel—a combined deputation of the leading authorities in every tribe. [See on 1Ch 11:1.] David possessed the first and indispensable qualification for the throne; namely, that of being an Israelite (De 17:15). Of his military talent he had furnished ample proof. And the people's desire for his assumption of the government of Israel was further increased by their knowledge of the will and purpose of God, as declared by Samuel (1Sa 16:11-13).
3. King David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord—(see on 1Sa 10:17). This formal declaration of the constitution was chiefly made at the commencement of a new dynasty, or at the restoration of the royal family after a usurpation (2Ki 11:17), though circumstances sometimes led to its being renewed on the accession of any new sovereign (1Ki 12:4). It seems to have been accompanied by religious solemnities.
2Sa 5:6-12. He Takes Zion from the Jebusites.
6. the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites—The first expedition of David, as king of the whole country, was directed against this place, which had hitherto remained in the hands of the natives. It was strongly fortified and deemed so impregnable that the blind and lame were sent to man the battlements, in derisive mockery of the Hebrew king's attack, and to shout, "David cannot come in hither." To understand the full meaning and force of this insulting taunt, it is necessary to bear in mind the depth and steepness of the valley of Gihon, and the lofty walls of the ancient Canaanitish fortress.
7. the stronghold of Zion—Whether Zion be the southwestern hill commonly so-called, or the peak now level on the north of the temple mount, it is the towering height which catches the eye from every quarter—"the hill fort," "the rocky hold" of Jerusalem.
8. Whosoever getteth up to the gutter—This is thought by some to mean a subterranean passage; by others a spout through which water was poured upon the fire which the besiegers often applied to the woodwork at the gateways, and by the projections of which a skilful climber might make his ascent good; a third class render the words, "whosoever dasheth them against the precipice" (1Ch 11:6).
9. David dwelt in the fort, &c.—Having taken it by storm, he changed its name to "the city of David," to signify the importance of the conquest, and to perpetuate the memory of the event.
David built round about from Millo and inward—probably a row of stone bastions placed on the northern side of Mount Zion, and built by David to secure himself on that side from the Jebusites, who still lived in the lower part of the city. The house of Millo was perhaps the principal corner tower of that fortified wall.
11, 12. Hiram … sent carpenters, and masons—The influx of Tyrian architects and mechanics affords a clear evidence of the low state to which, through the disorders of long-continued war, the better class of artisans had declined in Israel.
2Sa 5:13-16. Eleven Sons Born to Him.
13. David took him more concubines and wives—In this conduct David transgressed an express law, which forbade the king of Israel to multiply wives unto himself (De 17:17).
2Sa 5:17-25. He Smites the Philistines.
17. when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel—During the civil war between the house of Saul and David, those restless neighbors had remained quiet spectators of the contest. But now, jealous of David, they resolved to attack him before his government was fully established.
18. valley of Rephaim—that is, "of giants," a broad and fertile plain, which descends gradually from the central mountains towards the northwest. It was the route by which they marched against Jerusalem. The "hold" to which David went down "was some fortified place where he might oppose the progress of the invaders," and where he signally defeated them.
21. there they left their images—probably their "lares" or household deities, which they had brought into the field to fight for them. They were burnt as ordained by law (De 7:5).
22. the Philistines came up yet again—The next year they renewed their hostile attempt with a larger force, but God manifestly interposed in David's favor.
24. the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees—now generally thought not to be mulberry trees, but some other tree, most probably the poplar, which delights in moist situations, and the leaves of which are rustled by the slightest movement of the air [Royle].