Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 5:20
And David came to Baal-perazim, 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 Baal-perazim.
20. as the breach of waters ] Isaiah calls the scene of the battle “ mount Perazim” (Isa 28:21). David, we may suppose, occupied the hill, and swept down from it upon the Philistines in the plain below, scattering them irresistibly as a mountain torrent swollen by a sudden storm sweeps all before it and bursts through every obstacle in its way.
Baal-perazim ] Baal = owner or possessor, so that the name signifies “Place of breaches.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Baal-perazim – Master or possessor of breaches, equivalent to place of breaches. It was on a hill near Gibeon (see the marginal reference).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. The Lord hath broken forth] He very properly attributes the victory of Jehovah, without whose strength and counsel he could have done nothing.
Baal-perazim] The plain or chief of breaches, because of the breach which God made in the Philistine army; and thus he commemorated the interference of the Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Baal-perazim; whither the Philistines were come from the valley of Rephaim, 1Ch 14:11.
As the breach of waters; as floods or rivers of waters, which break the banks, and overflow a land, and overturn all that stands in their way.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And David came to Baalperazim,…. As it was after called, for here it has its name by anticipation, and whither the Philistines were come from the valley of Rephaim; see 1Ch 14:11; which was at no great distance, the one being the hill, to which the other was the valley, computed to be about three miles from Jerusalem, in the way to Bethlehem u, between which places were two hours’ travels w:
and David smote them there; there a battle was fought, in which David had the victory assured him:
and said, the Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters; as when waters, through their mighty force, break down the banks of rivers, and carry all before them; or as one breaks an earthen vessel full of water, so the Targum on 1Ch 14:11.
therefore he called the name of the place Baalperazim; which signifies “the master of breaches”, where the Philistines were broke in upon, and broken to pieces, of which God was the author, and which gave David the mastery over his enemies; the Targum renders it “the plain of breaches”, and seems to take it to be the same with the valley of Rephaim; see 2Sa 5:22.
u Bunting’s Travels, &c. p. 138. w Maundrell’s Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 87. ed. 7.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) Baal perazim = possessor (or lord) of breaches. After David had inquired of the Lord and received a favourable answer (2Sa. 5:19), he made a sudden attack, like a bursting forth of waters, and carried all before him. The victory was so signal as to give a new name to the locality, and to be remembered centuries afterwards as a memorable instance of Divine aid (Isa. 28:21). The name has no reference to the heathen deity Baal.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
20. Baal-perazim Furst renders, Baal of Perazim mount, and understands it as the name of a mountain city in the immediate vicinity of the place where the battle was fought. The word perazim means breakings forth, or breaches. Not only does David undertake the battle by the counsel of Jehovah, but he gives to the place of his triumph a name forever suggestive of Jehovah’s assistance in battle.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
(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.
Here is the issue of the battle. David conquers in the name of the Lord, and to the Lord gives all the glory. Baal-perazim signifies the Lord of the breaches. The leaving their dunghill gods behind them, and the burning of them by David, shows very plainly what they were. It is worthy remark, that when in the awful war, in which the Lord delivered Israel into the hands of their enemies for their sins, and even suffered the ark of God to be taken, the presence of the ark consumed the Philistines. In this, their contemptible gods falling into the hands of Israel, were themselves consumed. David’s burning of them was in obedience to the divine command. See Deu 7:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Ver. 20. As the breach of waters. ] Whenas, overflowing the banks, they bear all before them. See 1Ch 14:11 . Or, As the division of waters; that is, as waters are easily divided with hand or foot, so God hath dispersed mine enemies with great facility. See a like place in Isa 25:11 , “And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.” See also Isa 26:21 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
broken forth. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Baalperazim: that is, The plain of breaches, Isa 28:21
Reciprocal: 1Ch 14:11 – Baalperazim 1Ch 22:18 – before the Lord Psa 18:29 – by thee Lam 2:13 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 5:20. David came to Baal-perazim For thither the Philistines marched from Rephaim, where they first pitched; as appears from 1Ch 14:11. Hath broken forth upon mine enemies as the breach of waters Hath overpowered and scattered them, as waters, when they make a breach in a bank, overflow and carry all before them. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal-perazim That is, The master of the breaches. Thus ascribing all to God, and giving the place this name, that it might put him and his posterity in mind of Gods great power and goodness shown in that place.