David Defeats the Philistines

17 And the Philistines hear that they have anointed David for king over Israel, and all the Philistines come up to seek David, and David heareth, and goeth down unto the fortress, 18 and the Philistines have come, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David asketh of Jehovah, saying, 'Do I go up unto the Philistines? dost Thou give them into my hand?' And Jehovah saith unto David, 'Go up, for I certainly give the Philistines into thy hand.' 20 And David cometh in to Baal-Perazim, and David smiteth them there, and saith, 'Jehovah hath broken forth 'on' mine enemies before me, as the breaking forth of waters;' therefore he hath called the name of that place Baal-Perazim. 21 And they forsake there their idols, and David and his men lift them up. 22 And the Philistines add again to come up, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim, 23 and David asketh of Jehovah, and He saith, 'Thou dost not go up, turn round unto their rear, and thou hast come to them over-against the mulberries, 24 and it cometh to pass, in thy hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then thou dost move sharply, for then hath Jehovah gone out before thee to smite in the camp of the Philistines.' 25 And David doth so, as Jehovah commanded him, and smiteth the Philistines from Geba unto thy coming to Gazer.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Samuel 5:17-25

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.