2 Samuel 5:1–25 David Anointed King Over all Israel

[Study Aired October 19, 2026]

Our study today focuses on David being anointed king of all Israel. It started with the elders from all the tribes of Israel, indicating their common ancestry with David and requesting him to be their king. After David became king of all Israel, we see his house and family established. David then led his men to capture the stronghold of Zion, which became David’s abode. Finally, David and his men wrought victory over the Philistines. 

David Anointed King of Israel

2Sa 5:1  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2Sa 5:2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the LORD said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel. 

The fact that the elders of Israel affirmed that David was their bone and flesh in verse 1, is to remind us that it is not to angels that will rule over the nations of this world in the fullness of time, but we, the Lord’s elect, who are chosen from among men.

Heb 2:5  For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 
Heb 2:6  But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? 
Heb 2:7  Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: 
Heb 2:8  Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Heb 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

All the tribes of Israel coming to David at Hebron and reminding him in verse 2 of what the Lord has said concerning him, that he shall feed his people Israel and be a captain over them, is to remind us how we shall rule over our brothers and sisters in Babylon starting when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. We shall also feed them the truth of the word of the Lord during the lake of fire age, as we exercise our priesthood status.

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

2Sa 5:3  So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

The people of Israel anointing David as king over Israel in verse 3, brings to mind how the whole of creation is waiting with expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God. 

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 
Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

David being anointed as king over Israel implies that what guarantees our future kingship is the anointing or the holy spirit which the Lord has poured on us. That is the power that makes us witnesses of Christ in this life and qualifies us to reign with Him in the fullness of time.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2Sa 5:4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 

To understand this verse above, we need to know what the number thirty and forty signify. The number thirty represents the period that we work in the Lord’s vineyard or the church of the Lord’s elect, which qualifies us to reign with Christ, when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ. It is also the period that we are mourning, just like the two witnesses, as we go through the Lord’s judgment, which destroys our old man or our flesh, making us overcomers and therefore qualifying us to reign with Christ when He comes.

Num 20:29  And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Deu 34:8  And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

Num 4:3  From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 4:23  From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

Gen 41:46  And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.

David being anointed king of Israel at the age of thirty therefore shows how the Lord is preparing us to reign over the kingdoms of this world in the fullness of time as we work in the vineyard of the Lord. 

The number forty signifies the period that we are tried and tested, and found wanting by the Lord. David reigning over the people of Israel for forty years is to remind us of how the people of this world will be found wanting during the reign of the Lord’s elect, climaxing in the rebellion of humanity against the Lord and His Christs. 

Psa 95:10  Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: 
Psa 95:11  Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

Rev 16:14  For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. 
Rev 16:15  Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 
Rev 16:16  And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. 

2Sa 5:5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.  

The fact that David reigned over a period of seven and half years in Hebron means that our reign over the kingdoms of this world is not the completion of our reward. We are also given the privilege of bringing in all humanity to know Christ. It is instructive to note that David’s reign over both Israel and Judah was thirty and three years. As indicated earlier, the number thirty signifies the time that we work in the vineyard of the Lord’s elect. The number three means the process of spiritual maturity through the Lord’s judgment. The thirty and three period of David’s reign over Jerusalem therefore signifies that it is through the process of spiritual maturity by the Lord’s judgment that we become of service to the body of Christ, making us worthy of reigning with Christ over the kingdoms of this world, in the fullness of time.

The Capture of the Stronghold of Zion

2Sa 5:6  And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. 
2Sa 5:7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

Although the death of our old man or flesh starts when we were in Babylon, it is when we come to the Heavenly Jerusalem or the church of the firstborn that we must deal with the strongholds of our flesh, represented by the Jebusites in Jerusalem. To the people of this world who are controlled by the flesh, they think it is impossible to overcome the flesh, just as the Jebusites thought that it was impossible for David to overcome their stronghold. 

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 

The fact that David overcame the strongholds of the Jebusites in Jerusalem in verse 7 means that despite the strong opposition of our flesh, the Lord shall destroy our flesh through His judgment, in the fulness of time, as our new man overthrows our old man from the throne of our hearts and minds. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 
2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 
2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 
2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2Sa 5:8  And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.  

This verse is affirming to us that if we overcome our flesh, represented by the Jebusites, we shall reign (Chief and Captain) with Christ as kings of the nations of the earth. The blind represents those who are not given to see or understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. The lame, on the other hand, signifies those whose walk cannot please the Lord. David referring to the Jebusites as the blind and the lame therefore implies that when we are under the influence of our flesh, we cannot see and hear the mysteries of the kingdom, and therefore we cannot walk before the Lord blameless. Therefore, victory over the Jebusites or our flesh, helps us to understand the mysteries of the kingdom and also makes us walk before the Lord blameless.  

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 

2Sa 5:9  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. 
2Sa 5:10  And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. 

The city of David is the Heavenly Jerusalem or the church of the Lord’s elect, where the name of the Lord is the fort into which we ran into and are safe.

Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 
Pro 18:11  The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 
Pro 18:12  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Millo in verse 9 means a rampart, which in the Bible is a defensive wall, mound, or earthwork built around a city or fortress to protect against invading armies. The scriptures show us that it is the Lord who is like a wall of fire, protecting us from our enemies. Thus, David building round about from Millo and inward signifies the Lord being like a wall of fire to protect us when we are in the city of the living God (Jerusalem) or the church of the Lord’s elect.

Zec 2:5  For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 

In verse 10, David grew great in the city of David. This implies that it is when we are in the city of the living God or the heavenly Jerusalem that we grow stronger and stronger spiritually through what every joint supplies.

Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 
Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

2Sa 5:11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.

The king of Tyre helping David with the resources to build an house is what happens to us when we arise and shine as the glory of the Lord is risen upon us. The Lord told us through Isaiah that in His wrath, He is smiting us, but in the time of His favor, He will have mercy on us. This mercy translates into having strangers build our walls and their kings minister to us, as we see the King of Tyre minister to David, who represents the Lord’s elect. 

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 

Isa 60:5  Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Isa 60:6  The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. 

Isa 60:10  And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee. 

It is not always going to be dark in our walk with Christ. In His mercy, He will turn things around for our good since He owns all the resources of the gentiles. Are you discouraged, thinking that the issue you are dealing with has no ending? So was David, who wept several things as he was chastised by the Lord. However, there shall be times of refreshing as we see the resources of the Gentiles being made available to David here in verse 11.

2Sa 5:12  And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.  

Just as David perceived that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, we also come to realize at a certain stage of our walk with Christ that the Lord is establishing us in Him and that the crown of righteousness is within reach. This is the experience of Paul in this matter:

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

2Sa 5:13  And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David. 

We can see here in verse 13, that David’s Achilles heals was the love of women. He took concubines and wives out of Jerusalem. We are warned by the Lord that in this race of life, there should be no time that we think we have arrived. The Lord has shown us how we should run this race of life through Apostle Paul, by forgetting what is behind as we lay hold of what lies ahead. Any complacency or gratification, may be costly. 

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

2Sa 5:14  And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, 
2Sa 5:15  Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 
2Sa 5:16  And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet. 

The names of the sons of David shows us what the Lord is revealing to us about Himself and our walk. Shammua means ‘renowned’ or ‘prominent.’ As we walk with Christ, He must be prominent in our lives in everything. In other words, He must increase as our rebellious nature decreases (Shobab denotes ‘rebellious’). Nathan means ‘a giver’ and Solomon means ‘peace.’ All that we have is given to us by the Lord, and He is our peace. 

The next set of names shows us how the Lord chose us in Him before the foundation of this world, to grow in Him, who is our salvation, as we shine in this dark world (Ibhar – Jehovah chooses; Elishua – My God is salvation; Nepheg – sprout; Japhia – Shining).

The next set of names highlights the Lord’s providential care as He hears us, knows us and delivers us from the evil one (Elishama – My God has heard; Eliada – God knows; Eliphalet – God is deliverance)

David Defeats the Philistines

2Sa 5:17  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. 
2Sa 5:18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 
2Sa 5:19  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.  

The Philistines represent our flesh. Our kingship is based on overcoming the flesh in this age. From verse 17 and 18, it was when the Philistines realized that David had been made king that they intensified their effort to defeat him. This implies that it is as we make strides in our relationship with the Lord with the objective of being crowned as kings in the fullness of time that we are led into all kinds of temptation by our flesh. 

As David enquired from the Lord regarding what he should do in verse 19, the Lord assured him that he shall defeat the Philistines. This is to remind us that what the Lord starts, He is able to bring into completion regarding our victory over the flesh.

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 

2Sa 5:20  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. 
2Sa 5:21  And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. 

David smiting the Philistines at Baalperazim is to assure us that we, who are born of God, overcome the flesh. The question is who is it that is born of God? The verses below provide the answer. 

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 

It is our faith in Christ that what He has started, He is able to bring to completion that makes us overcomers. It is instructive to note that David defeated the Philistines in Baalperazim which means ‘Lord of the breaches.’ A breach means a gap, infraction, or violation of an established barrier. We, His elect, are those who breach the established order of every man succumbing to the flesh in this age. 

The Philistines leaving their images with David and his men burning them signifies that it is through the fire of the word of the Lord or His judgment that we destroy the mark or the image of the beast in our lives.

2Sa 5:22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 
2Sa 5:23  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. 
2Sa 5:24  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. 
2Sa 5:25  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. 

The Philistines coming up again to fight David and his men is to make us aware that our fight with our flesh will continue until the day we give up the ghost. It is important to note that the Lord directed David to use a different method to overcome the Philistines. It shows how the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling of strongholds. 

2Co 10:3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 
2Co 10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 
2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 
2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 

In verse 24, we are told that the condition under which David should proceed to attack the Philistines was when he hears the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees. Hearing the sound of marching on tops of the balsam trees represents being given to hear spiritual matters. This is equivalent to hearing the voice of the Lord or His words in the spirit. In other words, being given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven is the assurance the Lord is giving us of our victory over our flesh signified by the Philistines.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

May the Lord continue to be merciful to us as He gives us victory over our flesh. Amen!!