2 Samuel 5 20

2 Samuel 5:20 kjv

And David came to Baalperazim, 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.

2 Samuel 5:20 nkjv

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.

2 Samuel 5:20 niv

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.

2 Samuel 5:20 esv

And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood." Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.

2 Samuel 5:20 nlt

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").

2 Samuel 5 verses

2 Samuel 5 20 Meaning

2 Samuel 5:20 declares King David's understanding that the decisive victory over the Philistines was not due to human strength or strategy, but a direct, powerful act of God, like an irresistible flood. He names the place Baal-perazim, meaning "Master of Breakthroughs," to commemorate this divine intervention, acknowledging Yahweh as the true source of triumph.

2 Samuel 5 20 Context

2 Samuel chapter 5 narrates pivotal events in David's reign. After unifying Israel and Judah and being anointed king over all Israel (v. 1-3), David conquers Jerusalem from the Jebusites, establishing it as the City of David (v. 6-10). This rapid consolidation of power naturally drew the attention of the Philistines, Israel's long-standing enemies. They respond by coming up in full force to seek David (v. 17). Before engaging, David "inquired of the Lord" (v. 19), a consistent practice that characterized his rule. God commanded him to attack, promising deliverance of the Philistines into his hand. Verse 20 is David's immediate response and theological interpretation of the subsequent crushing victory, demonstrating his dependence on and acknowledgment of Yahweh's supreme power. The Philistines' reliance on their idols, which they abandoned in flight (v. 21), is implicitly contrasted with David's reliance on and God's powerful manifestation through Yahweh.

2 Samuel 5 20 Word analysis

• And David came to: Signifies David's leadership and physical presence at the victory site. His active role as commander, yet humble recognition of the divine source.
• Baal-perazim: (בַּעַל פְּרָצִים, Ba‘al Peratsim).
  • Ba‘al: Master, Lord, Owner. Here, it refers to the "Lord" of the breakthrough, a descriptor of Yahweh, not the Canaanite god Baal. This term usage for Yahweh is ancient, preceding the later, negative associations.
  • Peratsim: Breakthroughs, breaches. From the verb פָּרַץ (parats), meaning to break out, break forth, burst forth. It conveys an overwhelming, irresistible force, a sudden and powerful rending or breaking through obstacles or enemy lines.
  • Significance: David named the place not after himself or Israel's might, but after the characteristic of God's action there – the Master of Breakthroughs. It's a theological statement etched into the land, affirming God's direct hand. It also implicitly highlights a polemic against the Philistine gods or the efficacy of the pagan "Baals," asserting that Yahweh alone is the true "Baal" (master/Lord) of any genuine breakthrough.
• and David struck them down there, and he said: Indicates immediate action and then a declaration, linking the physical act to its spiritual interpretation. David executes the battle as God commanded (v. 19).
• “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the breakthrough of waters.”
  • The Lord: (יהוה, YHWH). The covenant God of Israel. David attributes the victory directly and explicitly to Yahweh, distinguishing Him from human strength or Philistine gods.
  • has broken through: (פָּרַץ, parats). Same root as Peratsim. Emphasizes the sudden, decisive, and overwhelming nature of God's action. It's an act of breaking through barriers.
  • my enemies before me: A personal acknowledgment from David. God fought for David, providing him the victory against his foes.
  • like the breakthrough of waters: A powerful simile.
    • Waters: Conveys an unstoppable, overwhelming torrent. When a dam bursts, or a river overflows its banks, its force is irresistible, sweeping away all obstacles. This imagery highlights God's immense power, rendering the Philistine resistance utterly futile. It signifies a divine flood of power that washes away opposition. This parallels other instances of God's power over water, like the Red Sea or Jordan crossing.
    • Significance: It emphasizes that the victory was complete and divinely propelled, far beyond human capabilities or conventional military strategy.

2 Samuel 5 20 Bonus section

The choice of the term "Baal" in "Baal-perazim" is notable. While later the term "Baal" became synonymous with false Canaanite deities and a target of prophetic condemnation, its use here (and in some early personal names) simply means "lord" or "master." David using it to describe Yahweh's action indicates a reclaiming or an earlier, pre-corruption understanding of the term where Yahweh is the true "Master" of all things, including breakthroughs and battles. This subtly differentiates Yahweh's absolute power from the limited, false powers of the Philistine "baals" and their idols that were abandoned (2 Sam 5:21). This specific "breakthrough" at Baal-perazim is later referenced by the prophet Isaiah (Isa 28:21) as an example of God's unusual, decisive actions on behalf of His people, emphasizing divine purpose and surprising means of deliverance.

2 Samuel 5 20 Commentary

2 Samuel 5:20 marks a critical moment for the fledgling kingdom of Israel under David. Faced with the Philistine threat, David's immediate impulse is to seek divine guidance, a hallmark of his dependence on God. Upon God's command, the victory is decisive and total. David's response in naming the place "Baal-perazim" (Master of Breakthroughs) and his declaration "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the breakthrough of waters" are profound theological statements. They underscore that true sovereignty and power reside in Yahweh alone. This was not a win secured by David's superior tactics or the might of his army, but a divine intervention, a forceful, irresistible breaking of enemy lines by God Himself. This act confirms God's commitment to David's kingship and Israel's security, setting a precedent for trusting God in all future conflicts. It also serves as a strong counter-narrative to pagan beliefs that attributed military success to idols or human might, firmly establishing Yahweh's unparalleled supremacy as the God of Hosts who fights for His people.