Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 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.
24. the sound of a going ] The sound of marching. The cognate verb is used of Jehovah “marching” (so to speak) before His people in Jdg 5:4; Psa 68:7; Hab 3:12. A rustling in the tops of the trees like the marching of an army was to be the signal that Jehovah Himself would lead David’s army to victory. Cp. 2Ki 7:6.
bestir thyself ] In Chron. less forcibly “go out to battle.”
then shall the Lord go out before thee ] The use of the perfect tense in the original gives an emphasis to the assurance. “Then hath Jehovah gone forth before thee.” The E. V. renders it rightly in Chron.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 24. When thou hearest the sound of a going] If there had not been an evident supernatural interference, David might have thought that the sleight or ruse de guerre which he had used was the cause of his victory. By the going in the tops of the mulberry trees probably only a rustling among the leaves is intended. The Targum says, a noise; the Arabic has it, the noise of horses’ hoofs.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The sound of a going; a noise as it were of persons walking upon the tops of them, which I shall cause; and by this sign, both thou shalt be assured that I am coming to help thee, and the Philistines shall be affrighted and amused, and not perceive the noise of thy army until thou art upon them.
Then thou shalt bestir thyself; do thou fall upon them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
24. the sound of a going in the topsof the mulberry treesnow generally thought not to be mulberrytrees, but some other tree, most probably the poplar, which delightsin moist situations, and the leaves of which are rustled by theslightest movement of the air [ROYLE].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,…. Of a going of the wind on the tops of these trees, making a rustling upon them, and that in such a manner as to resemble the going of men, or march of armies, as if they were moving in the air over the tops of the mulberry trees; which Jarchi and R. Isaiah interpret of angels being sent of God, and moving at that time to help David, and destroy the Philistines; so the Targum on
1Ch 14:15. These trees being in Judea account for silk there, Eze 16:10; though some think time was not known so early; others suppose it was, and to be the Hebrew byssus mentioned by Pausanias a, as being of a yellow colour:
that then thou shall bestir thyself; or move towards the camp of the Philistines, and fall upon them in the rear, who, by reason of the sound in the trees, would not hear the motion of the Israelites; or, if they heard it, would take it to be no other than the motion of the trees they heard, both sounds being confounded together; or they would take the sound they heard for the motion of the enemy in the front, and give way, and so fall into the hands of the Israelites in their rear, which must throw them into the utmost confusion and consternation:
for then shall the Lord go out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines: by an angel or angels; so the Targum,
“for then shall go forth the angel of the Lord, to make thee prosperous to slay in the camp of the Philistines;”
that being the precise time for the salvation of Israel, and the destruction of the Philistines, and the token of it.
a Eliac. sive, l. 5. p. 294.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(24) The sound of a going.After David has gone to the rear of his enemies, he is to wait by the mulberry trees, or, as now generally understood, baca-shrubs, a plant resembling the balsam. Here a Divine signal was to be given him in the sound of a going, or, rather, of a march. The word is used of the march of the hosts of the Lord in Jdg. 5:4; Psa. 68:7. Then David was to bestir himself, literally, be sharp; he was to act quickly and vigorously.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
24. The sound of a going Like the noise of a moving army. It was the sound of Jehovah’s host moving before the army of Israel and leading David on to victory; and though, like Elisha’s servant, his eyes were holden that he could not behold the horses and chariots around him, (2Ki 6:17,) yet he was permitted to hear the noise of their movements. This is one of the Old Testament texts which point to an unseen world of spiritual agencies around us which are sent forth to minister to the saints of God. Some of the saints have had their spiritual eyes unvailed to see the angelic hosts of God, but the cold rationalism of our day would fain rob us of all belief in a supernatural world of principalities and powers beyond us. Compare notes on 2Ki 2:11-12; 2Ki 6:17.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 5:24. The sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry-trees “This may be rendered, among the first of the mulberry-trees; i.e. among the trees which were the first in order, and by which they entered into the grove; so that God gives David for a sign, the sound of many men’s feet, walking on the ground amidst the trees, though nobody should be seen among those trees, which were before the eyes of all David’s army.” Houb. The Hebrew might be rendered, when thou hearest the sound of a moving in the tops, &c. Which implies nothing more than a ruling and extraordinary sound among the trees, which was to be the signal for David’s attack.
REFLECTIONS.1st, The Philistines, alarmed at David’s success, the union of the kingdoms under him, and the friendship of Hiram, thought it high time to fall upon him before he was thoroughly settled in his throne, lest afterwards they should attempt it too late. They invade Israel with a numerous army, and pitch near Jerusalem, in the valley of Rephaim. David is ready to receive them, and goes down to the hold, some fortress which was below Jerusalem, where probably was the general rendezvous of his army. Before he goes forth, however, he inquires of God, and is sent with assurance of success. Confidently, therefore, he attacks and defeats their army, seizes their gods, whom they had brought into the field as their protectors, and, according to the Divine command, cast them into the fire. From this signal victory, the place is called Baal-perazim; God having broken forth as a resistless torrent upon his enemies, and thrown them down slain before him. Note;
(1.) Though the enemies of God’s people think to crush them with their numerous forces, they assemble only to their own confusion. (2.) When we inquire of God upon our knees, we may expect an answer of peace, and go forth with confidence to oppose our spiritual enemies, assured that God will bruise sin and Satan shortly under our feet. (3.) They who put their trust in creature-supports, will find them as vain as the images of the Philistines.
2nd, One repulse abates not their courage, but rather kindles their desire of revenge. They dare a second time renew their invasions, and encamp on the very spot where they had been before routed: so foolishly and wilfully do sinners rush on their own destruction. David again has recourse to God for direction; and, as before he was ordered to march and meet them with the drawn sword, now he must fetch a compass behind them, and God will fight for him; so that he shall have nothing to do, but pursue their flying hosts. A rushing noise among the trees is to be the signal for him to fall on; he obeys, and the Philistines are smitten and pursued to their borders, as far as Gazer. Note; (1.) When we wait God’s motions, our warfare must prosper. (2.) The repeated efforts of corruption and temptation in the faithful soul, though grievous for the present, weaken the root of sin, lead to an entire conquest, and strengthen the graces in the hearts of believers. (3.) On a sound like a rushing mighty wind, the Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles, and then Satan’s kingdom fell before the sword of the Spirit, the word of God in their mouths.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
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.
Ver. 24. The sound of a going. ] A hurry noise made by God’s angels, as 2Ki 7:6 , who are come to thy help.
Then thou shalt bestir thyself.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
sound: 2Ki 7:6
thou shalt bestir: Jdg 4:14, Jdg 7:15, 1Sa 14:9-12, 1Ch 14:15, Phi 2:11, Phi 2:12
Reciprocal: Gen 24:14 – thereby Exo 11:4 – will I go Deu 33:7 – let his hands Jos 6:10 – until the day 1Sa 14:12 – Come up after me 1Sa 14:15 – very great trembling 2Ki 13:17 – The arrow Eze 3:13 – the noise
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 5:24. When thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops, &c. The Hebrew, , beroshee, here translated tops, may properly be rendered, in the beginnings, or, among the first of the mulberry-trees; that is, in the very entrance of the place where these trees were, or among those which were first in order, and by which the grove was entered. So that God gives David for a sign, the sound of many mens feet walking, not on the tops of the trees, (for men do not walk there,) but on the ground amidst the trees, though nobody should be seen among them by any in Davids army. Probably the sound was to be heard by the Philistines, to whom it might appear as if a vast number of men were marching to fall upon them. The Hebrew, however, may be rendered, When thou hearest the sound of a moving in the tops, &c. And it may imply nothing more than a rushing and extraordinary sound among the trees, which was to be a signal for Davids attack. Then bestir thyself Fall upon the Philistines. For then the Lord shall go before thee By making such a noise either of a mighty host coming to assault them, or of something very extraordinary, that they shall be amazed, and confounded, and put to flight.