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The Prosperous Reign of David
This chapter is based on 2 Samuel 5:6-25; 6; 7; 9; 10.
A place was selected twenty miles from Hebron as the future
capital of the kingdom. It had been called Salem. Eight hundred
years before, it had been the home of Melchizedek, priest of the
most high God. It was almost in the center of the country and was
protected by hills. On the border between Benjamin and Judah, it
was close to Ephraim and easily reached by the other tribes.
To secure this location the Hebrews must drive out a remnant
of the Canaanites who held a fortified position on the mountains of
Zion and Moriah. This stronghold was called Jebus, and those who
lived there, Jebusites. For centuries no one thought Jebus could be
conquered. But it was surrounded and taken under the command of
Joab, and as reward he was made commander-in-chief of the armies
of Israel. Jebus became the national capital, and its heathen name
was changed to Jerusalem.
Hiram, king of Tyre, wanted to make an alliance with David and
he helped him to erect a palace at Jerusalem. He sent ambassadors
from Tyre, accompanied by architects and workmen and costly
material.
The increasing strength of Israel, united under David, stirred
the hostility of the Philistines, and they again invaded the country,
taking up their position only a short distance from Jerusalem. David
withdrew with his men of war to the stronghold of Zion. “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.’”
David attacked at once, defeated them, and took from them the
gods that they had brought to ensure victory. Frustrated because of
their defeat, the Philistines gathered a larger army and returned to
the conflict. Again David asked the Lord for guidance, and the great
I AM took direction of the armies of Israel.
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