Bible Strands
2 Samuel 5:17
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a tactical moment when the Philistine armies mobilize upon learning of David’s coronation, prompting David to withdraw to a fortified stronghold. This occurs immediately after David’s consolidation of power and his defeat of the Jebusites.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ (va-yish-mə-ʿū) literally means "and they heard," marking the Philistines' intelligence gathering. The phrase לְמֶלֶךְ עַל־ (lə-mə-lêḵ ʿal-) translates to "to king over," denoting David’s newly established political authority.
The thread — The same sequence appears in 1 Chronicles 14:8, while 2 Samuel 23:14 and 1 Chronicles 11:16 reference David’s presence in the stronghold during Philistine occupation. These passages track the recurring Philistine response to David’s rise and his tactical withdrawals.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that political legitimacy triggers military opposition, and that strategic retreat precedes confrontation. It asks the reader to observe how authority is tested before it is secured.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 23:14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.
- 1 Chronicles 11:16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem.
- 1 Chronicles 14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.
- Psalms 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
- Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”