2 Samuel 5 17

2 Samuel 5:17 kjv

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.

2 Samuel 5:17 nkjv

Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.

2 Samuel 5:17 niv

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.

2 Samuel 5:17 esv

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.

2 Samuel 5:17 nlt

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold.

2 Samuel 5 verses

2 Samuel 5 17 Meaning

This verse describes the immediate and aggressive reaction of the Philistines upon hearing the significant news that David had been anointed king over all Israel. Recognizing this as a direct threat to their regional dominance and influence, they swiftly mounted a unified military expedition to seek out and neutralize David. In response, David, demonstrating wisdom and strategic awareness, received intelligence of their advance and, instead of confronting them directly in a vulnerable position, strategically withdrew to a fortified stronghold, preparing for the impending conflict on his own terms. The passage highlights the immediate opposition God's anointed encountered from established hostile powers and David's reliance on shrewd tactics under divine guidance.

2 Samuel 5 17 Context

2 Samuel chapter 5 marks a pivotal moment in David's life and Israel's history. After reigning over Judah for seven and a half years in Hebron (2 Sam 5:5), all the tribes of Israel finally gathered and anointed David king over the entire nation (2 Sam 5:1-3), fulfilling God's earlier promise. Immediately following this national unification and the capture of Jerusalem, which became Israel's capital (2 Sam 5:6-10), David's power and international standing began to rise (2 Sam 5:11-12). This ascendancy directly challenged the Philistines, Israel's long-standing, dominant enemies who had repeatedly oppressed them, defeated Saul, and limited their territorial control. Historically, the Philistines saw any strong, unified Israel as a direct threat to their hegemony over the coastal plain and influence in the region. Therefore, their swift and united military response was a predictable attempt to suppress this new threat before David could solidify his kingdom, perceiving David's anointing over "all Israel" as a declaration of full sovereignty and intent to challenge their supremacy. David's immediate move to a stronghold was a testament to his understanding of Philistine aggression and his prudent military leadership.

2 Samuel 5 17 Word analysis

• When the Philistines heard (וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים, wayyišməʿū pĕlištîm):

  • Philistines (פְלִשְׁתִּים, Pĕlištîm): A significant tribal confederacy of seafaring origin (often associated with "Sea Peoples") who settled the southwestern coast of Canaan. They were perennial, powerful antagonists of Israel throughout the Judges and Early Monarchy periods, continually seeking to dominate and control the region. Their existence challenged Israel's claim to the Promised Land. They represent a recurring opposition to God's people and plans throughout Scripture.
  • heard (shama'): Not a casual hearing, but receiving strategic intelligence or reports, indicating vigilance on the part of the Philistines. It implies a swift information network, reflecting their concern and the political tension of the time. The act of hearing is linked to immediate and significant action.

• that David had been anointed king (כִּי מָשַׁח אֶת־דָּוִד לְמֶלֶךְ, kî māshaḥ ’et-Dāwiḏ ləmeleḵ):

  • anointed king (mashach ləmeleḵ): Anointing symbolized divine appointment and authority. David's anointing as "king" and not merely a chieftain elevated his status considerably. For the Philistines, this was not just news of a new leader but the recognition that the powerful leader they knew was now consecrated as sovereign over the unified Hebrew nation, a direct threat to their political and territorial aspirations. This signified the legitimate establishment of God's chosen ruler, destined to expand Israel's borders.

• over Israel (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל, ’al-Yiśrā’ēl):

  • This is key. David had already been king over Judah. "Over Israel" signifies his anointing over all twelve tribes, symbolizing national unity under God's chosen king. This presented a formidable, united force the Philistines had not contended with under previous fragmented Israelite leadership, directly challenging their regional hegemony and power structure.

• they all went up (וַיַּעֲלוּ כֻלָּם, wayya‘ălû kullām):

  • all: Indicates a complete, unified effort of the Philistine confederacy, reflecting the seriousness with which they viewed David's anointing. This was not a minor skirmish but a major expedition.
  • went up (‘alah): From a topographical perspective, the Philistine plains lie west and below the Judean hills. Therefore, advancing eastward into the hill country of Israel meant going "up." It also signifies an aggressive, offensive movement.

• to search for David (לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־דָּוִד, ləḇaqqēš ’et-Dāwiḏ):

  • search (bakash): To seek, to find, to hunt. This conveys an intentional and aggressive pursuit to directly engage and eliminate David, the very source of their perceived threat. It implies a targeted attack against the unified leadership.

• but David heard of it (וַיִּשְׁמַע דָּוִד, wayyišmaʿ Dāwiḏ):

  • David heard (shama’): Parallels the Philistines' hearing, highlighting David's alertness, well-established intelligence network, and readiness. It contrasts the two responses – Philistine aggression and David's strategic foresight. David, as king, received crucial counter-intelligence, allowing him to respond proactively.

• and went down to the stronghold (וַיֵּרֶד אֶל־הַמְּצוּדָה, wayyēreḏ ’el-hamməṣûdāh):

  • went down (yarad): Geographically, if David was in Jerusalem (his newly captured capital in the Judean hills), going to a stronghold could mean descending to a specific, defensible fortified place, perhaps a well-known cave or rock formation he utilized during his outlaw years (e.g., Adullam, En Gedi).
  • stronghold (הַמְּצוּדָה, hammĕtsūḏāh): A fortified place, fortress, or refuge, often a natural defensive position in the mountains or desert. This term is deeply tied to David's past experiences of fleeing from Saul (e.g., 1 Sam 22:4, 23:14). His choice to retreat here was not an act of cowardice but a strategic, tactical move based on his military experience. It allowed him to choose the ground for battle, regroup, and seek divine counsel before engaging a numerically superior enemy, demonstrating prudent leadership and reliance on secured positions. This illustrates his wisdom, knowing when to engage and when to retreat to a more advantageous position.

Words-group analysis:

• "When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel": This phrase establishes the direct cause-and-effect. David's newly consolidated power and divine mandate provoked an immediate hostile reaction from a long-standing adversary. It underscores the geopolitical significance of David's coronation for the stability of the region.

• "they all went up to search for David; but David heard of it and went down to the stronghold": This showcases a strategic chess match. The Philistines initiated a direct offensive with the intent to capture or kill David. David, possessing good intelligence, countered by a tactical retreat to a known fortified position. This highlights not just physical movement, but the wisdom and foresight in leadership against a direct and substantial threat, anticipating divine guidance in the impending conflict.

2 Samuel 5 17 Bonus section

• The immediate and unified Philistine attack on David shortly after his anointing is a prophetic echo of the opposition faced by God's "Anointed One" (Messiah). Just as nations raged against the establishment of Christ's kingdom, earthly powers opposed God's plan through David's reign (Ps 2:1-2; Acts 4:26-28).
• The reference to "stronghold" (מְצוּדָה) connects David's actions as a fully-fledged king with his earlier years as a fugitive. This continuity shows a consistent aspect of his character: his shrewd use of terrain and defensible positions, indicating a seasoned military leader who knew when to fight and when to retreat to gain advantage.
• This verse highlights the intelligence game between opposing powers in ancient warfare. Both sides "heard," emphasizing the crucial role of spies and scouts in military strategy. David's success as king often involved superior intelligence gathering and decisive action based on it.
• The conflict immediately after David's anointing served as a testing ground for his full kingship. God allowed this confrontation to validate David's reign, demonstrating divine support for the unified monarchy through subsequent victories against Israel's primary antagonist.

2 Samuel 5 17 Commentary

2 Samuel 5:17 powerfully sets the stage for David's initial conflicts as king of unified Israel, demonstrating that the divine establishment of God's chosen leader often provokes immediate and intense opposition from forces aligned against God's purposes. The Philistines' aggressive "search" for David illustrates their alarm at Israel's newfound unity and strength under a divinely appointed sovereign, seeing it as an existential threat to their regional dominance. David's response—a strategic withdrawal to a "stronghold"—reveals not fear, but military prudence forged in years of experience. Rather than impulsively engaging, he opted for a defensive position, reflecting his reliance on careful planning and, implicitly, divine counsel for where and when to strike. This moment underscores the perpetual tension between the kingdom of God advancing and the worldly powers that seek to resist it, with God's king leading with wisdom, discernment, and trust in the Lord for victory. It serves as a practical example that divine favor does not eliminate opposition, but empowers wise and strategic responses to overcome it.