Bible Strands
2 Samuel 5:6
Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David and his troops march against Jerusalem, where the Jebusites who inhabit the land taunt him with the claim that even the blind and lame can repel him. The Jebusites speak directly to David, asserting that he cannot enter the city.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיֵּלֶךְ (va.ye.lekh) translates literally as "and he went," describing the king’s military advance. The noun יְבוּסִי (ye.vu.si) identifies the Jebusite inhabitants whose confidence frames the confrontation.
The thread — The Jebusite occupation of Jerusalem appears in Joshua 18:28 and Joshua 15:63, where Judah fails to displace them. Judges 1:8 records a prior Judahite capture of the city, contrasting with the current stalemate David faces.
Why it lands — The text records a military advance met with hostile mockery, noting the gap between human confidence and actual conquest. It requires the reader to acknowledge that fortified opposition does not guarantee permanent security against a determined campaign.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Judges 1:8 Then the men of Judah fought against Jerusalem and captured it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.
- Joshua 15:63 But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the descendants of Judah.
- Joshua 18:28 Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath-jearim—fourteen cities, along with their villages. This was the inheritance of the clans of the tribe of Benjamin.
- Judges 1:21 The Benjamites, however, failed to drive out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. So to this day the Jebusites live there among the Benjamites.
- 1 Chronicles 11:4 Then David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus), where the Jebusites inhabited the land.
- Jeremiah 37:10 Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans that is fighting against you, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”
- Judges 19:10 But the man was unwilling to spend the night. He got up and departed, and arrived opposite Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), with his two saddled donkeys and his concubine.
- Hebrews 7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
- Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High—
- Joshua 10:3 Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,