2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5:13-16 . ELEVEN SONS BORN TO HIM.

13. David took him more concubines and wives--In this conduct David transgressed an express law, which forbade the king of Israel to multiply wives unto himself ( Deuteronomy 17:17 ).

2 Samuel 5:17-25 . HE SMITES THE PHILISTINES.

17. when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel--During the civil war between the house of Saul and David, those restless neighbors had remained quiet spectators of the contest. But now, jealous of David, they resolved to attack him before his government was fully established.

18. valley of Rephaim--that is, "of giants," a broad and fertile plain, which descends gradually from the central mountains towards the northwest. It was the route by which they marched against Jerusalem. The "hold" to which David went down "was some fortified place where he might oppose the progress of the invaders," and where he signally defeated them.

21. there they left their images--probably their "lares" or household deities, which they had brought into the field to fight for them. They were burnt as ordained by law ( Deuteronomy 7:5 ).

22. the Philistines came up yet again--The next year they renewed their hostile attempt with a larger force, but God manifestly interposed in David's favor.

24. the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees--now generally thought not to be mulberry trees, but some other tree, most probably the poplar, which delights in moist situations, and the leaves of which are rustled by the slightest movement of the air [ROYLE].