Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

THE PHILISTINES TRY AGAIN TO DEFEAT DAVID

"And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear and come upon them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the top of the balsam trees, then bestir yourself,' for then the Lord has gone out before you to smite the army of the Philistines. And David did as the Lord commanded him, and smote the Philistines from Geba to Gezer."

The big thing here is that God Himself achieved this victory over the Philistines. The noise of marching in the tops of the balsam trees probably threw a great panic into the hearts of the Philistines, just as the sound of many trumpets had done for the enemies of Gideon in his victory over the Midianites (Judges 7:15-23).

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And the Philistines came up yet again,.... And, as Josephus says^F26Antiqu. l. 7. c. 4. sect. 1. , with an army three times larger than the former:

and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim; in the same place where they were before, 2 Samuel 5:20.

Geneva Study Bible

(g) Meaning the valley of giants, which David called Baalperazim, because of his victory.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

And spread themselves — The expression intimates, that they were very numerous, and made a very formidable appearance. So we read, Revelation 20:9, of the church's enemies going up on the breadth of the earth. But the wider they spread themselves, the fairer mark they are for God's arrows.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 5:22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

Ver. 22. And the Philistines came up yet again.] They will have the other bout, though to their bane. No warning will serve obdurate hearts Cimon the Athenian triumphed over the Persians twice in one day. David shall do little less over these foolhardy Philistines.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

The Philistines came up again, doubtless with greater force, as those that saw their all lay at stake.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

22.Came up yet again — Probably soon after the defeat just recorded. They were chagrined at the loss of their gods, and probably David had not followed up his victory.

Thou shalt not go up — So as to meet and attack them face to face as before.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

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 favour; at least, a slight occurrence produced a panic, and David was directed to attack them suddenly from behind the mulberry trees.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(22) Came up yet again.—As David had not followed up his victory (probably because he was not yet in condition to do so) the Philistines repeated their attack in the same place.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

came up

1 Kings 20:22; 1 Chronicles 14:13