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Two Victories over the Philistines
17When the PhilistinesheardthatDavidhad been anointedkingoverIsrael,theyallwentin search ofhim;but Davidlearned of thisand went downtothe stronghold.18Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.…

Treasury of Scripture

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.

But when

1 Chronicles 14:8,9
And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heardof it, and went out against them…

Psalm 2:1-5
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? …

Revelation 11:15-18
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are becomethe kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever…

the hold

2 Samuel 23:14
And Davidwas then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistineswas thenin Bethlehem.

1 Chronicles 11:16
And Davidwas then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrisonwas then at Bethlehem.

AnointedDavidForceFortressFullHearHeardHearethHearingHoldIsraelNewsPhilistinesSearchSeekStrongStrongholdAnointedDavidForceFortressFullHearHeardHearethHearingHoldIsraelNewsPhilistinesSearchSeekStrongStronghold1.The tribes come to Hebron and anoint David over Israel,
4.David's age
6.Taking Zion from the Jebusites, he dwells in it
11.Hiram sends to David,
13.Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem
17.David, directed by God, smites the Philistines at Baal-perazim
22.And again at the mulberry trees

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel
The Philistines were a significant military and political power in the region during David's time. Their hearing of David's anointing signifies the threat they perceived in his leadership. David's anointing as king over Israel marks the fulfillment of God's promise to him, as seen in1 Samuel 16:13. The Philistines' reaction reflects the ongoing conflict between Israel and Philistia, a theme throughout the books of Samuel. This moment also highlights the spiritual battle between God's chosen people and their adversaries.

they all went in search of him
The Philistines' unified action to seek out David indicates their intent to eliminate him before he could consolidate power. This reflects the common ancient Near Eastern practice of preemptively attacking emerging threats. The Philistines' response underscores the political instability and constant warfare of the period. It also foreshadows the numerous battles David would fight against them, as recorded in subsequent chapters.

but David learned of this
David's awareness of the Philistines' movements suggests his effective intelligence network and strategic acumen. This knowledge allowed him to take proactive measures to protect his reign and people. It also demonstrates God's providential care over David, ensuring he was informed and prepared for the impending threat. This aligns with the biblical theme of God guiding and protecting His anointed leaders.

and went down to the stronghold
The stronghold likely refers to the fortress of Adullam or another secure location in the Judean wilderness. This move indicates David's strategic retreat to a defensible position, a common military tactic. The stronghold symbolizes a place of refuge and divine protection, reminiscent of God being a "fortress" for His people (Psalm 18:2). David's reliance on a stronghold reflects his trust in God's provision and protection, a recurring theme in his life and psalms.

1.David
Recently anointed king over Israel, David is a central figure in this passage. His leadership and reliance on God are key themes.

2.Philistines
A recurring enemy of Israel, the Philistines represent opposition to God's chosen people and His anointed king.

3.Anointing of David
This event marks David's official recognition as king over Israel, signifying God's favor and the fulfillment of His promise.

4.Stronghold
A place of refuge and defense, symbolizing David's strategic and spiritual preparation against his enemies.

5.Israel
The nation over which David has been anointed king, representing God's covenant people.God's Timing and Anointing
David's anointing as king was in God's perfect timing. We must trust in God's timing for our own lives and callings.

Facing Opposition with Faith
Like David, we will face opposition when we step into God's calling. Our response should be to seek refuge in God, our stronghold.

Strategic Spiritual Preparation
David's retreat to the stronghold symbolizes the importance of spiritual preparation and seeking God's guidance in times of trouble.

The Role of Enemies in God's Plan
The Philistines' opposition served to strengthen David's reliance on God. Challenges can be opportunities for spiritual growth.

Leadership and Responsibility
As leaders, we must be vigilant and proactive, like David, in protecting and guiding those entrusted to us.1.What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 5:17?

2.How does David's response to the Philistines demonstrate reliance on God's guidance?

3.What can we learn from David's actions about seeking God's will in challenges?

4.How does 2 Samuel 5:17 connect with Ephesians 6:10 on spiritual warfare?

5.In what ways can we apply David's trust in God to our daily battles?

6.How does David's leadership in 2 Samuel 5:17 inspire us to lead with faith?

7.Why did the Philistines seek David after he was anointed king in 2 Samuel 5:17?

8.How does 2 Samuel 5:17 reflect God's protection over David?

9.What historical evidence supports the events described in 2 Samuel 5:17?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 5?

11.1 Chronicles 14:8–17 – How do we reconcile any discrepancies between this account of David’s battles with the Philistines and the parallel text in 2 Samuel 5?

12.When did David bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem? Before defeating the Philistines or after? After (2 Samuel 5 and 6) Before (I Chronicles 13 and 14)

13.Did David or Elhanan kill Goliath?

14.Where is the historical or archaeological evidence for the specific persecutions mentioned in Psalm 17:9–12?When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel

“ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel ” (2 Samuel 5:17)

• News spreads quickly in the ancient Near East; word of David’s full coronation (2 Samuel 5:3, echoing the earlier, private anointing in1 Samuel 16:13) reaches enemy territory.

• The Philistines grasp what the anointing means: the shepherd‐warrior who slew their champion (1 Samuel 17:45–50) is now ruler of the entire covenant nation, threatening their regional dominance (Judges 13:1).

• God’s faithfulness is on display; every promise given to David is coming to pass despite years of delay and hardship (2 Samuel 7:8–9;Psalm 78:70–72).

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they all went in search of him

“ …they all went up in search of David ” (v. 17 b)

• “All” underlines a united Philistine campaign, reminiscent of earlier coalitions against Israel (1 Samuel 13:5).

• Their objective is assassination or decisive battle before David consolidates power—common ancient practice to crush a new king swiftly (1 Kings 15:27).

• Ironically, David once found temporary refuge among these same Philistines (1 Samuel 27:1–4), but loyalty to God’s people now makes him their chief target.

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but David learned of this

“ …but he heard about it ” (v. 17 c)

• God allows His servant to be informed, just as He previously disclosed Saul’s plots (1 Samuel 23:9–12).

• David consistently gathers intelligence yet seeks divine counsel before acting (2 Samuel 5:19;Psalm 32:8).

• The text highlights vigilance: faith never ignores danger; it discerns it and brings it before the Lord (Nehemiah 4:9).

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and went down to the stronghold

“ …and went down to the stronghold ” (v. 17 d)

• Likely the fortress of Adullam or the newly captured stronghold of Zion (2 Samuel 5:7; 23:14), both natural, defensible sites in Judah’s hill country.

• David’s move is strategic, not cowardly—similar to Christ’s occasional withdrawals from premature confrontation (John 10:39).

• The pattern seen throughout his life remains: pray, prepare, then engage as God directs (1 Samuel 30:7–8).

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summary

2 Samuel 5:17 reveals an immediate test of David’s new kingship. The Philistines, alarmed by God’s elevation of David, mobilize to eliminate him. David, forewarned, exercises prudent faith by retreating to a secure stronghold, poised to seek the Lord’s guidance for the coming battle. The verse underlines God’s faithfulness, the enemy’s opposition to His promises, and the wise balance of trust and tactical action that marks a leader after God’s own heart.

(17)When the Philistines heard.--After this general summary, the narrative goes back to take up detailed events in their order. First comes an attack of the Philistines. Their attention had naturally been hitherto occupied with Abner and Ish-bosheth, who ruled over the far greater part of the land; but when they heard that the old nation was united under their old foe, they saw that no time was to be lost in attacking him before his power should be consolidated. Yet their necessary consultations, and the mustering of their forces, allowed time for the conquest of Jerusalem, which David seems to have accomplished with the forces gathered at his coronation.

Went down to the hold.--As David went "down" to this place, and then "up" (2Samuel 5:19) from it to the attack on the Philistines, it is not likely that "the hold" means the citadel of Zion. It must have been some stronghold near the Philistine army. It could not have been, as some have thought, the cave of Adullam. According to the monastic tradition, this was seven or eight miles S.E. of Bethlehem; according to the more ancient view, it was in the plain of Judah, west of the mountains; thus, in either case, quite remote from the scene of the battle.

Verse 17. -But when the Philistines heard. After the battle of Gilboa the Philistines became the virtual rulers of much of the country west of the Jordan, and probably even David and Judah paid them tribute. On its eastern bank, though Abner kept them from molesting Ishbosheth's kingdom, yet the rule of Saul's house in Ephraim and Benjamin must have been nominal only, and the Philistines would have seen him with pleasure wasting his strength in civil war. After Ishbosheth's death they had tightened their grasp over the central districts of Palestine, though probably content with exacting tribute. They must now have seen with displeasure the consolidation of the tribes under one able ruler. Even in their divided state, the natural strength of the country and the bravery of the people had made it a task too great for the Philistine power entirely to crush Israel's independence. But if they could destroy David before he had had time to establish himself in his kingdom, they would at least prolong indefinitely that feebleness of Israel which had made it so long subject to their dominion. Of this supremacy the Philistines have handed down a token forever in giving to the whole country the name of Palestine, the Philistines' land.David... went down to the hold. Many commentators identifythe hold with the cave of Adullam, and certainly the account of the brave deed of three of David's heroes, in breaking through the Philistine garrison of Bethlehem to bring him water thence, gives great probability to this view. For we read there that "the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim, and that David was then in the hold" (2 Samuel 23:13, 14, where note that the word "hold" has the definite article). There are, however, many difficulties connected with this view; for the cave of Adullam was in the valley of Elah, on the road from Hebron to Philistia (1 Samuel 22:1), but the valley of Rephaim is close to Jerusalem (Joshua 15:8), abutting, in fact, upon the valley of Ben-Hinnom. Baal-Perazim also is in the same neighbourhood, being the rocky height which forms the border of Ben-Hinnom, and bounds the valley of Rephaim on the north. Still, the passage in2 Samuel 23:13, 14 seems too precise to be lightly set aside, and we must suppose, therefore, that the Philistines, alarmed by the gathering of half a million of men and women at Hebron, sent messengers throughout their country to assemble their warriors. It was the weakness of ancient warfare that its vast hosts of people melted away as rapidly as they had gathered. For provisions were soon spent, and the men had to return to their farms and their cattle. Thus David, having used some of that large concourse of strong men for the capture of Jerusalem, was left immediately afterwards with no other protection than that of his "mighty men." Saul had endeavoured to have always round him three thousand trained men (1 Samuel 13:2), and David subsequently had probably quite as many (2 Samuel 15:18); but at this early stage he had probably not many more than he had brought with him from Ziklag to Hebron. He could not, therefore, make head against the Philistines coming with all the militia of their land; but, leaving his wives and the wives of his mighty men in the Jebusite stronghold of Jerusalem, we may well believe that he sped away to gather the warriors of Israel. But what seems strange is that he should have gone to the rear of the Philistines, especially as they had come in such vast numbers as to occupy the whole country - a garrison, for instance, being posted at Bethlehem, and doubtless at other fit spots. Still, this country was well known to David, and he could gather there old friends, whose bravery he had often tried before. And while thus waiting for the mustering of such as God would move to help him, in deep distress at so terrible a reversal following so quickly upon his exaltation, a strange longing for water from the well of his native town seized him. He was suffering apparently from fever of body as well as from distress of mind, and soon there was relief from both. For three of his heroes heard the words burst from his parched lips, and, hastening to Bethlehem, broke through the Philistine garrison, and filled a waterskin from the well at the gate of the city. Such an act naturally made a great impression upon David. What room was there for despair when he had such men around him? Pouring out, then, the water as a drink offering to Jehovah, his heart was now filled with hope, and inquiring of the Lord whether he might attack the Philistines, he received the assurance which he had already gathered from the exploit of his heroes, that God would deliver them into his hand.

Parallel Commentaries ...


When the Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּ֗ים(p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430:Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

heard
וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּ(way·yiš·mə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligently

that
כִּי־(kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588:A relative conjunction

David
דָּוִ֤ד(dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

had been anointed
מָשְׁח֨וּ(mā·šə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4886:To rub with oil, to anoint, to consecrate, to paint

king
לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙(lə·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428:A king

over
עַל־(‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, against

Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל(yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478:Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

they
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים(pə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430:Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

all
כָל־(ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, every

went
וַיַּעֲל֥וּ(way·ya·‘ă·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5927:To ascend, in, actively

in search of
לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ(lə·ḇaq·qêš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1245:To search out, to strive after

[him];
דָּוִ֑ד(dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

but [David]
דָּוִ֔ד(dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732:David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

learned [of this]
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע(way·yiš·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085:To hear intelligently

and went down
וַיֵּ֖רֶד(way·yê·reḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381:To come or go down, descend

to
אֶל־(’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413:Near, with, among, to

the stronghold.
הַמְּצוּדָֽה׃(ham·mə·ṣū·ḏāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4686:A net, capture, a fastness


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OT History: 2 Samuel 5:17 When the Philistines heard that they had (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)