TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
Berean Standard Bible
Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
American Standard Version
And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
World English Bible Messianic
The Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Againe the Philistims came vp, and spred themselues in the valley of Rephaim.
Young's Literal Translation
And the Philistines add again to come up, and are spread out in the valley of Rephaim,
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In the KJVVerse 8,155 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on 2 Samuel 5 verses 17–25
17 ¶ 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.
18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
19 And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
20 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.
21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.
22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
25 And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.
The particular service for which David was raised up was to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, Sa2 3:18. This therefore divine Providence, in the first place, gives him an opportunity of accomplishing. Two great victories obtained over the Philistines we have here an account of, by which David not only balanced the disgrace and retrieved the loss Israel had sustained in the battle wherein Saul was slain, but went far towards the total subduing of those vexatious neighbours, the last remains of the devoted nations.
I. In both these actions the Philistines were the aggressors, stirred first towards their own destruction, and pulled it on their own heads. 1. In the former they came up to seek David (Sa2 5:17), because they heard that he was anointed king over Israel. He that under Saul had slain his ten thousands, what would he do when he himself came to be king! They therefore thought it was time to look about them, and try to crush his government in its infancy, before it was well settled. Their success against Saul, some years ago, perhaps encouraged them to make this attack upon David; but they considered not that David had that presence of God with him which Saul had forfeited and lost. The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as ever it was set up in the world, was thus vigorously attacked by the powers of darkness, who, with the combined force both of Jews and Gentiles, made head against it. The heathen raged, and the kings of the earth set themselves to oppose it; but all in vain, Psa 2:1, etc. The destruction will turn, as this did, upon Satan's own kingdom. They took counsel together, but were broken in pieces, Isa 8:9, Isa 8:10. 2. In the latter they came up yet again, hoping to recover what they had lost in the former engagement, and their hearts being hardened to their destruction, Sa2 5:22. 3. In both they spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim, which lay very near Jerusalem. That city they hoped to make themselves masters of before David had completed the fortifications of it. Jerusalem, from its infancy, has been aimed at, and struck at, with a particular enmity. Their spreading themselves intimates that they were very numerous and that they made a very formidable appearance. We read of the church's enemies going up on the breadth of the earth (Rev 20:9), but the further they spread themselves the fairer mark they are to God's arrows.
II. In both, David, though forward enough to go forth against them (for as soon as he heard it he went down to the hold, to secure some important and advantageous post, Sa2 5:17), yet entered not upon action till he had enquired of the Lord by the breast-plate of judgment, Sa2 5:19, and again, Sa2 5:23. His enquiry was twofold: - 1. Concerning his duty: "Shall I go up? Shall I have a commission from heaven to engage them?" One would think he needed not doubt this; what was he made king for, but to fight the battles of the Lord and Israel? But a good man loves to see God going before him in every step he takes. "Shall I go up now?" It is to be done, but is it to be done at this time? In all thy ways acknowledge him. And besides, though the Philistines were public enemies, yet some of them had been his particular friends. Achish had been kind to him in his distress, and had protected him. "Now," says David, "ought not I, in remembrance of that, rather to make peace with them than to make war with them?" "No," says God, "they are Israel's enemies, and are doomed to destruction, and therefore scruple not, but go up." 2. Concerning his success. His conscience asked the former question, Shall I go up? His prudence asked this, Wilt thou deliver them into my hand? Hereby he owns his dependence on God for victory, that he could not conquer them unless God delivered them into his hand, and refers his cause to the good pleasure of God: Wilt thou do it? Yea, says God, I will doubtless do it. If God send us, he will bear us out and stand by us. The assurance God has given us of victory over our spiritual enemies, that he will tread Satan under our feet shortly, should animate us in our spiritual conflicts. We do not fight at uncertainty. David had now a great army at command and in good heart, yet he relied more on God's promise than his own force.
III. In the former of these engagements David routed the army of the Philistines by dint of sword (Sa2 5:20): He smote them; and when he had done, 1. He gave his God the glory; he said, "The Lord has broken forth upon my enemies before me. I could not have done it if he had not done it before me; he opened the breach like the breach of waters in a dam, which when once opened grows wider and wider." The principal part of the work was God's doing; nay, he did all; what David did was not worth speaking of; and therefore, Not unto us, but unto the Lord, give glory. He hoped likewise that this breach, like that of waters, was as the opening of the sluice, to let in a final desolation upon them; and, to perpetuate the remembrance of it, he called the place Baal-perazim, the master of the breaches, because, God having broken in upon their forces, he soon had the mastery of them. Let posterity take notice of it to God's honour. 2. He put their gods to shame. They brought the images of their gods into the field as their protectors, in imitation of the Israelites bringing the ark into their camp; but, being put to flight, they could not stay to carry off their images, for they were a burden to the weary beasts (Isa 46:1), and therefore they left them to fall with the rest of their baggage into the hands of the conqueror. Their images failed them, and gave them no assistance, and therefore they left their images to shift for themselves. God can make men weary of those things that they have been most fond of, and compel them to desert what they dote upon, and cast even the idols of silver and gold to the moles and the bats, Isa 2:20, Isa 2:21. David and his men converted to their own use the rest of the plunder, but the images they burnt, as God had appointed (Deu 7:5): "You shall burn their graven images with fire, in token of your detestation of idolatry, and lest they should be a snare." Bishop Patrick well observes here that when the ark fell into the Philistines' hands it consumed them, but, when these images fell into the hands of Israel, they could not save themselves from being consumed.
IV. In the latter of these engagements God gave David some sensible tokens of his presence with him, bade him not fall upon them directly, as he had done before, but fetch a compass behind them, Sa2 5:23. 1. God appoints him to draw back, as Israel stood still to see the salvation of the Lord. 2. He promised him to charge the enemy himself, by an invisible host of angels, Sa2 5:24. "Thou shalt hear the sound of a going, like the march of an army in the air, upon the tops of the mulberry trees." Angels tread light, and he that can walk upon the clouds can, when he pleases, walk on the tops of trees, or (as bishop Patrick understands it) at the head of the mulberry-trees, that is, of the wood, or hedge-row of those trees. "And, by that sign, thou shalt know that the Lord goes out before thee; though thou see him not, yet thou shalt hear him, and faith shall come and be confirmed by hearing. He goes forth to smite the host of the Philistines." When David had himself smitten them (Sa2 5:20), he ascribed it to God: The Lord has broken forth upon my enemies, to reward him for which thankful acknowledgment the next time God did it himself alone, without putting him to any toil or peril. Those that own God in what he has done for them will find him doing more. But observe, Though God promised to go before him and smite the Philistines, yet David, when he heard the sound of the going must bestir himself and be ready to pursue the victory. Note, God's grace must quicken our endeavours. If God work in us both to will and to do, it does not follow that we must sit still, as those that have nothing to do, but we must therefore, work out our own salvation with all possible care and diligence, Phi 2:12, Phi 2:13. The sound of the going was, (1.) A signal to David when to move; it is comfortable going out when God goes before us. And, (2.) Perhaps it was an alarm to the enemy, and put them into confusion. Hearing the march of an army against their front, they retreated with precipitation, and fell into David's army which lay behind them in their rear. Of those whom God fights against it is said (Lev 26:36), The sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them. (3.) The success of this is briefly set down, Sa2 5:25. David observed his orders, waited till God moved, and stirred them, but not till then. Thus he was trained up in a dependence on God and his providence. God performed his promise, went before him, and routed all the enemies' force, and David failed not to improve his advantages; he smote the Philistines, even to the borders of their own country. When the kingdom of the Messiah was to be set up, the apostles that were to beat down the devil's kingdom must not attempt any thing till they received the promise of the Spirit, who came with a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind (Act 2:2), which was typified by this sound of the going on the tops of the mulberry trees; and, when they heard that, they must bestir themselves, and did so; they went forth conquering and to conquer.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 17–25. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
2 Samuel 5:22 chronicles a swift and determined second assault by the Philistines against King David and the newly unified kingdom of Israel, immediately following their initial defeat. This verse vividly portrays the persistent nature of opposition, as the Philistines, undeterred by their recent setback, once again deploy their forces in the strategically vital Valley of Rephaim, thereby setting the stage for another critical confrontation that will compel David to seek renewed divine guidance and demonstrate God's continued sovereignty over Israel's adversaries.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices to convey its message with depth and impact. Repetition is prominently featured through the phrase "yet again," which echoes the previous Philistine invasion in the very same valley. This repetition underscores the cyclical nature of conflict and the persistent, unyielding threat posed by Israel's enemies, building a palpable sense of ongoing struggle and the need for continuous vigilance. The verse also serves as powerful foreshadowing, setting the stage for David's crucial decision to seek divine counsel once more in the subsequent verses. It highlights the profound theological truth that past victories do not guarantee future success without renewed reliance on God, thereby building narrative tension and emphasizing the importance of ongoing divine guidance. Furthermore, the very name "Valley of Rephaim" can be interpreted as a form of symbolism. Given the association of Rephaim with ancient giants and formidable foes, the valley itself might symbolize the overwhelming, seemingly insurmountable, and deeply entrenched nature of the Philistine opposition, evoking a sense of dread or immense challenge that only divine intervention can truly overcome.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates a profound theological truth: even after significant victories and clear demonstrations of divine favor, opposition is rarely eradicated permanently in this fallen world. The Philistines' persistent return underscores that spiritual and physical battles often require ongoing vigilance and renewed reliance on God. It teaches that God's people must not grow complacent after success, but rather consistently seek His guidance for every new challenge. This dynamic reflects the reality of the Christian life, where spiritual adversaries persist, and past triumphs do not negate the need for present faith and obedience. The Lord's continued faithfulness, even in the face of recurring threats, is implicitly affirmed as the narrative progresses to another divinely orchestrated victory, reinforcing His unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The persistent return of the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5:22 offers a timeless and vital lesson for our lives: victories, whether personal, spiritual, or communal, do not necessarily signal the end of all challenges. Just as the Philistines "came up yet again," we frequently encounter recurring difficulties, new forms of opposition, or the re-emergence of old struggles even after significant breakthroughs or periods of peace. This verse serves as a powerful reminder against complacency and encourages a posture of continuous reliance on God. It teaches us that the Christian journey is often marked by ongoing spiritual warfare, requiring not just initial faith but sustained perseverance and a willingness to seek fresh divine strategies for each new battle. Our past successes are not a license for self-reliance, but rather a testament to God's faithfulness, which we must continue to lean on for every future encounter. This calls us to cultivate a habit of constant prayer, discernment, and obedience, recognizing that God's methods for victory may change even when the enemy's persistence does not. It is a call to dynamic faith, ever-responsive to the Lord's leading in the face of life's relentless tides.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did the Philistines return so quickly after their first defeat?
Answer: The Philistines returned quickly because David's capture of Jerusalem and his consolidation of power represented a direct and existential threat to their regional dominance. Their initial defeat in the Valley of Rephaim (2 Samuel 5:17-21) was a setback, but not a decisive end to their military capability or their strategic objectives. For them, allowing David to firmly establish his kingdom would mean the permanent loss of their influence and control over the central highlands. Their swift return, "yet again," underscores their determination and the high stakes involved in their ongoing conflict with Israel. They were not merely seeking revenge but attempting to reassert their hegemony and prevent the rise of a strong, unified Israelite kingdom under David, which they perceived as a direct challenge to their long-standing supremacy.
What is the significance of the Valley of Rephaim as a battleground?
Answer: The Valley of Rephaim was a highly significant battleground due to its strategic geographical location. Situated southwest of Jerusalem, it served as a crucial gateway to the Judean highlands and the capital city itself. Control of this valley was essential for controlling access to Jerusalem and the heartland of Judah. For the Philistines, it was the primary route for launching invasions against Israel's central territory. For Israel, defending this valley was paramount to protecting their capital and maintaining their sovereignty. Its frequent mention as a site of conflict (e.g., 2 Samuel 5:18, 1 Chronicles 14:9) highlights its enduring importance as a contested zone between the two powers. Furthermore, the name "Rephaim" itself, associated with ancient giants, may have added to its formidable reputation, symbolizing the magnitude and ancient nature of the battles fought there.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The persistent return of the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5:22, demanding renewed divine strategy from David, powerfully foreshadows the ongoing spiritual warfare faced by believers and the ultimate, decisive victory secured by Christ. Just as David confronted a relentless earthly foe, humanity faces a persistent spiritual adversary in Satan, who, even after being decisively defeated at the cross, continues to "prowl around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Jesus, the greater David, did not merely achieve a temporary victory but secured an eternal triumph over sin, death, and the powers of darkness through His resurrection, disarming the rulers and authorities and putting them to open shame (Colossians 2:15). His earthly life exemplified perfect reliance on the Father, constantly seeking divine will even in the face of relentless opposition from religious leaders and demonic forces, declaring, "I can do nothing on my own" (John 5:19). For the believer, 2 Samuel 5:22 reminds us that while the decisive battle for salvation has been won by Christ, we still live in a world where the enemy "came up yet again." Our victory is not in our own strength or past successes, but in continually drawing upon the power of Christ's finished work and His indwelling Spirit, which enables us to stand firm against the schemes of the devil, putting on "the whole armor of God" (Ephesians 6:10-11). Ultimately, the narrative of David's repeated victories, guided by God, points to the ultimate and final triumph of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ, who will one day cast every enemy under His feet and reign forever (1 Corinthians 15:25).