18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 19 so David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands?" The Lord answered him, "Go, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hands." 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, the Lord has broken out against my enemies before me." So that place was called Baal Perazim.[1] 21 The Philistines abandoned their idols there, and David and his men carried them off. 22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim;

Other Translations of 2 Samuel 5:18-22

King James Version

18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David enquired 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. 20 And David came to Baalperazim, Baalperazim: that is, the plain of breaches and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. 21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned burned...: or, took them away them. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

English Standard Version

18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the Lord, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand." 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The Lord has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.Baal-perazim means lord of bursting through 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

The Message

18 When the Philistines arrived, they deployed their forces in Raphaim Valley. 19 Then David prayed to God: "Shall I go up and fight the Philistines? Will you help me beat them?" 20 "Go up," God replied. "Count on me. I'll help you beat them." 21 The retreating Philistines dumped their idols, and David and his soldiers took them away. 22 Later there was a repeat performance. The Philistines came up again and deployed their troops in the Rephaim Valley.

New King James Version

18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the Lord said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away. 22 Then the Philistines went up once again and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

New Living Translation

18 The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. 19 So David asked the Lord, "Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The Lord replied to David, "Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you." 20 So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. "The Lord did it!" David exclaimed. "He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!" So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means "the Lord who bursts through"). 21 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them. 22 But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 5:18-22

Commentary on 2 Samuel 5:17-25

(Read 2 Samuel 5:17-25)

The Philistines considered not that David had the presence of God with him, which Saul had forfeited and lost. The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as it was set up in the world, was thus attacked by the powers of darkness. The heathen raged, and the kings of the earth set themselves to oppose it; but all in vain, Acts 2:2.