2 Samuel 5 · Verse 17

2 Samuel 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.
2 Samuel 5:17, King James Version

2 Samuel 5:17 in other translations

BSBWhen the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.
WEBWhen the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David, but David heard about it and went down to the stronghold.
ASVAnd when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.
YLTAnd the Philistines hear that they have anointed David for king over Israel, and all the Philistines come up to seek David, and David heareth, and goeth down unto the fortress,
DARBYAnd the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the stronghold.
BBEAnd when the Philistines had news that David had been made king over Israel, they all went up in search of David; and David, hearing of it, went down to the strong place.
WebsterBut 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.

What does 2 Samuel 5:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
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.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 The Philistines came up to seek David - Ever since the defeat of the Israelites and the fall of Saul and his sons, the Philistines seem to have been in undisturbed possession of the principal places in the land of Israel; now, finding that David was chosen king by the whole nation, they thought best to attack him before his army got too numerous, and the affairs of the kingdom were properly settled.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 5:17-25
The Philistines considered not that David had the presence of God with him, which Saul had forfeited and lost. The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as it was set up in the world, was thus attacked by the powers of darkness. The heathen raged, and the kings of the earth set themselves to oppose it; but all in vain, Psa 2:1, &c. The destruction will turn, as this did, upon Satan's own kingdom. David owns dependence on God for victory; and refers himself to the good pleasure of God, Wilt thou do it? The assurance God has given us of victory over our spiritual enemies, should encourage us in our spiritual conflicts. David waited till God moved; he stirred then, but not till then. He was trained up in dependence on God and his providence. God performed his promise, and David failed not to improve his advantages. When the kingdom of the Messiah was to be set up, the apostles, who 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, Ac 2:2.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Samuel 5:17 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּvai.yish.me.'Uand they heardH8085
פְלִשְׁתִּ֗יםfe.lish.Tim[the] PhilistinesH6430
כִּי\־ki-thatH3588
מָשְׁח֨וּma.she.Chupeople had anointedH4886
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
דָּוִ֤דda.VidDavidH1732
לְמֶ֙לֶךְ֙le.Me.lekhto kingH4428
עַל\־'al-overH5921
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַיַּעֲל֥וּvai.ya.'a.Luand they went upH5927
כָל\־khol-allH3605
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖יםpe.lish.Tim[the] PhilistinesH6430
לְבַקֵּ֣שׁle.va.Keshto seekH1245
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
דָּוִ֑דda.VidDavidH1732
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣עvai.yish.Ma'and he heardH8085
דָּוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
וַיֵּ֖רֶדvai.Ye.redand he went downH3381
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַמְּצוּדָֽה\׃ha.me.tzu.Dahthe strongholdH4686

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 5:17

  • 2 Samuel 23:14

    And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth–lehem.

  • 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 heard of it, and went out against them. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

  • 1 Chronicles 11:16

    And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines’ garrison was then at Beth–lehem.

  • Psalms 2:1-5

    Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. …

  • Revelation 11:15-18

    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. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
But when.
1Ch 14:8,9; Ps 2:1-5; Re 11:15-18
the hold.
23:14; 1Ch 11:16

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 5:16

    And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphalet.

  • 2 Samuel 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.

  • 2 Samuel 5:18

    The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

Read all of 2 Samuel 5

2 Samuel 5:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y oyendo los Filisteos que habían ungido á David por rey sobre Israel, todos los Filisteos subieron á buscar á David: lo cual como David oyó, vino á la fortaleza.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les Philistins apprirent qu’on avait oint David pour roi sur Israël, et tous les Philistins montèrent pour chercher David; et David l’apprit, et descendit à la forteresse.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als die Philister hörten, daß man David zum König über Israel gesalbt hatte, da zogen alle Philister herauf, um David zu suchen. Und David hörte es und zog in die Burg hinab.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Audierunt ergo Philisthiim quod unxissent David in regem super Israël, et ascenderunt universi ut quærerent David: quod cum audisset David, descendit in præsidium.