2 Samuel 5:1 – 16 “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “We are your own flesh and blood. In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’”
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites, who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, “You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off.” They thought, “David cannot get in here.” Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David. On that day David had said, “Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those ‘lame and blind’ who are David’s enemies.” That is why they say, “The ‘blind and lame’ will not enter the palace.”
David then took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it, from the terraces inward. And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him.
Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs and carpenters and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. After he left Hebron, David took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet.“
Finally, after all those struggles, David has become king. It’s fascinating that the same elders of Israel who were previously willing to back Abner and Ish – bosheth have suddenly remembered that God has anointed David as King and has promised David the kingdom. Selective memory is a wonderful thing, especially when it is in the service of political expedience!
David is savvy enough to take support wherever he can get it; he makes a covenant with all the elders of Israel in a meeting at Hebron. David’s next move is to conquer Jerusalem because God has designated Jerusalem as the capital for Israel. Remember that Jerusalem contains Mount Moriah, the site of Abraham’s near – sacrifice of Isaac, and a very holy place. By now, the Israelites should have already conquered the Jebusites who occupy Jerusalem, but they have not. Seated on a tall hill, the fortress of Jerusalem appears impregnable; however, the Jebusites have a water tunnel or shaft that proves their undoing. Discovered by Sir. Charles Warren in 1867, this shaft was protected by a high tower that actually allowed the Jebusites to access water from the Gihon spring without exposing themselves to an enemy. But somehow, David’s men gained access to that shaft and with it, entry into Jerusalem.
The Jebusites are so certain that their stronghold can withstand anything David does that they taunt David, claiming that “even the lame and the blind” can keep David from entering Jerusalem. Oooh! Bad move! Obviously, these people have not been paying attention to David’s battle tactics. When David and his men move up the water shaft and into Jerusalem, it must be quite a shock.
Once David has established himself in Jerusalem, Hiram, King of Tyre, spontaneously sends envoys to David, along with carpenters, stone masons, and cedar logs. Hiram is a good man and also an astute businessman. Tyre is a major trading city and a seaport. Built on a peninsula jutting out into the Mediterranean Sea, Tyre is one of the business centers for that part of the ancient world. Has Hiram met David before? Perhaps when David was sheltering in Ziklag, Hiram and he might have met. At any rate, Hiram is doing everything he can to cement good relationships with David. Several major trading routes pass through Israel, and Hiram wants to make certain that the new regime will not cut off the flow of goods. And there may be another reason. As a good man, Hiram may also be a God worshiper, and God may have given David favor with Hiram. At any rate, Hiram builds David a palace and David further establishes himself and ensures his dynasty by taking more wives and fathering additional children.
APPLICATION: For years, people doubted the story of the Jebusite water tunnel, assuming that the Jebusites were poorly developed and did not have sufficient resources to create such a thing. The only tunnel known at the time was the one built during Hezekiah’s reign. But more recent archaeological investigations have proven that in fact, Jerusalem under the Jebusites was highly developed. Once the Jebusite water shaft was discovered in 1867, further digging was carried out in that area, and scholars had to change their entire view of the Jebusites. Later studies have shown that the water shaft may date back to 18th century B.C.E. As a contrast, Joshua’s conquest of Jericho is frequently dated around 1500 B.C.E.
David did not conquer Jerusalem by a frontal assault, but by using the water shaft. David wasn’t concerned about showing off; he was concerned about gaining victory with the loss of as few lives as possible. Sometimes, we tackle problems head – on in an attempt to prove to ourselves and others that we are capable. But if our objective is to get good results, we will not hesitate to use whatever approach will work most effectively, no matter who gets the credit. We don’t know the names of those who entered Jerusalem by the water shaft; however, David, as a good leader, would make certain that those men got due appreciation for their success.
The story of King Hiram of Tyre is amazing. The cedar logs Hiram sent to David were undoubtedly some of the famous cedars of Lebanon, and one of the most highly prized types of wood available. Hiram had other kinds of wood that he could have sent; however, Hiram sent royal wood as a sign that he recognized David’s kingship.
The final verses might give us pause. If David was a man after God’s own heart, why was he taking all these wives and concubines to father more children? David was a man of his time, and this is what kings did at that time. David was human enough to demonstrate his manhood in this fashion. Also, God had promised David that He would help David found a dynasty. In a day and age when children might die before the age of five, David was trying to make sure that there were enough sons that one of them would survive to become king.
David was a man with human failings, but he was willing to allow others to get credit for their achievements. Because David followed God closely, God gave him favor with men such as King Hiram of Tyre. Today many Bible teachers emphasize the concept of divine favor without recognizing that favor goes along with obedience. First, David obeyed and only then did he receive the results of divine favor. If we are unwilling to seek God’s will for our lives, we should not attempt to go our own directions and then demand God’s favor anyway. Obedience is not a matter of saying a few sentences over and over; obedience is a matter of the heart. When God sent Samuel to anoint David, He told Samuel that He regarded hearts and not outward appearances. Do you want divine favor? First, check your heart!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help each one of us to search our hearts and see if there is anything You have asked us to do that we are not doing. Help us to remember that our obedience must come before we can expect Your favor. Help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment