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All of 2 Samuel

Bible Chapter Summary

2 Samuel 5 Summary

David Anointed King Over All Israel

All the tribes of Israel come to David at Hebron, acknowledging him as their bone and flesh and recalling that the LORD promised him he would feed and lead Israel. David makes a league with the elders before the LORD and is anointed king over Israel. He begins his reign at age thirty and will reign forty years—seven and a half years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. David and his men assault the stronghold of Zion, defeating the Jebusites and establishing Jerusalem as his city. David builds his palace and grows great as the LORD blesses him. After the Philistines hear of his anointing, they attack twice in the valley of Rephaim, but David defeats them both times by the LORD's direction.

Key themes

Unified kingdomDivine promiseConquest of ZionJerusalem as capitalMilitary victory

Key verses

2 Samuel 5:1-3

Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2 Samuel 5:6-8

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 cannot come in hither.

2 Samuel 5:19-20

And David inquired 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.

2 Samuel 5:24-25

And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

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