Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 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.
3. all the elders of Israel ] From 2Sa 5:1 and 1Ch 12:23-40 it is evident that a general assembly of the nation, and not merely a few delegates, met at Hebron: here the elders are particularly specified because they acted as the representatives of the people in negotiating with David. See note on 1Sa 8:4, and cp. ch. 2Sa 3:17.
made a league with them ] Cp. ch. 2Sa 3:21. This ‘league’ was probably a solemn contract in which the king on the one hand engaged to rule according to the laws, and the people on the other hand promised him their allegiance. Some kind of a charter, defining the king’s rights, was in existence (1Sa 10:25): and later on we find the people demanding some limitation of these rights (1Ki 12:3 ff). The Israelite monarchy was not an absolute and irresponsible despotism.
before the Lord] The covenant was made as a solemn religious ceremony, in the presence of the supreme King of Israel, whose vicegerent David was. Cp. 1Sa 11:15.
they anointed David king ] For the third time. See note on ch. 2Sa 2:4. In Chronicles is added “according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.”
The book of Chronicles contains further interesting details about this assembly at Hebron (1Ch 12:23-40). The numbers of fighting men sent by each tribe are preserved, amounting to a total of nearly 350,000. Stress is laid on the unanimity of feeling, and the general rejoicing with which David’s anointing was celebrated in a three days’ festival.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Before the Lord – Abiathar and Zadok the priests were both with David, and the tabernacle and altar may have been at Hebron, though the ark was at Kirjath-jearim.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
2Sa 5:3
And King David made a league with them.
Making a league
For one born into the family, no formal covenant is necessary, in order to bind to his support all who are of the same blood with himself. But when one is taken in from outside, to be closer than a brother, or when a number of persons who are not of one blood would bind themselves together in mutual fellowship, a specific league must be made in ratification of the new relation. The form of the league is different in different cases. The simplest form, and one which has always had a binding force in the East, is that of eating together, of breaking bread in common, in token of mutual fidelity. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, in his Among the Turks, gives various illustrations of this truth. As he sat on the floor, at dinner, in a Turkish governors residence, the boy gave him in his fingers a piece of roast mutton, to be taken by the guests fingers and then eaten. Now, do you know what I have done? asked the boy. Perfectly well, answered Dr. Hamlin. You have given me a delicious piece of roast meat, and I have eaten it. You have gone far from it, responded the boy. By that act, I have pledged you every drop of my blood, that while you are in my territory no evil shall come to you. For that space of time we are brothers. Coming from Smyrna, at one time, Dr. Hamlin was on a vessel containing a large number of raw recruits for the Turkish army. Just before reaching port, some fifteen or so of these recruits threw off their look of stolid resignation, cleared a place on the deck, as I supposed, for a country dance; and I looked on with interest. I could see, by their costumes, that they were all from the same village, or villages closely associated . . . They stood in a ring, each mans right hand upon his neighbours left shoulder. Soon one came to take a vacant place, with a semeet, a ring of bread, in his hand. He broke it into bits, and they all ate of it, saying a few words of prayer, probably the first chapter of the Koran. It was a religious act, plainly. About to separate, and be dispersed into the army, they bound themselves to be faithful in memory, and in aid, should it ever become possible. It was to them a kind of sacrament, an oath of brotherhood. And so they made a league with one another. (The Sunday School Times.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 3. They anointed David king] This was the third time that David was anointed, having now taken possession of the whole kingdom.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
King David made a league with them; whereby he obliged himself to rule them according to Gods laws; and the people promised fidelity and obedience to him.
Before the Lord; either,
1. Before the ark, which might be here, though that be not mentioned in this place. Or,
2. Before the priest clothed with the ephod; whereby he was in a manner put into Gods presence. Or rather,
3. In the congregation of the mighty, or magistrates, where God used to be present, Psa 82:1; in the public assembly now met together in Gods name and fear, and as in his presence, to call upon him, to appeal to him as the witness and judge of their transactions. Compare Jdg 11:11; 1Sa 23:18. They anointed David; either by a prophet, or the priest, to whom this office belonged. See 2Sa 2:4.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. King David made a league withthem in Hebron before the Lord(see on 1Sa10:17). This formal declaration of the constitution was chieflymade at the commencement of a new dynasty, or at the restoration ofthe royal family after a usurpation (2Ki11:17), though circumstances sometimes led to its being renewedon the accession of any new sovereign (1Ki12:4). It seems to have been accompanied by religioussolemnities.
2Sa5:6-12. HE TAKESZION FROM THE JEBUSITES.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron,…. Which either explains what is meant by the tribes coming to him, 2Sa 5:1; namely, coming by their elders as their representatives; or else the meaning is, that the messengers the tribes sent, when they returned and reported the favourable reception they had met with from David; the elders of the several tribes, the princes or principal men met, and came together to David in Hebron:
and King David made a league with them before the Lord; the states of the nation; he entered into a covenant with them; he on his part promising to rule them in justice and judgment according to the laws, and they promising to yield a cheerful obedience to him in all things just and lawful: and this was done “before the Lord”; either before the ark of the Lord, as Abarbinel; but that was in Kirjathjearim, from whence it was after this brought by David to this city; rather, as Kimchi observes, wherever all Israel, or the greater part of them, were assembled, there the divine Shechinah or Majesty dwelt; so that what was done in a public assembly was reckoned as done before the Lord, and in his presence; or this covenant was made before the Lord, and each party appealed to him as witness of it, so that it was a very solemn one:
and they anointed David king over Israel; that is, over all Israel, which was the third time of his being anointed; the first was by Samuel, pointing out the person the Lord chose and appointed king; the second was by the tribe of Judah, when they invested him with the office of a king over them; and now by all the tribes, when he was inaugurated into the whole kingdom of Israel; and not only the elders came at this time, but great numbers of the people from the several tribes, and continued with David some days, eating, drinking and rejoicing, see 1Ch 12:1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) Made a league with them.It would be an anachronism to understand this of the establishment of a constitutional monarchy, but the league may have had reference to certain special matters, such as leading them against their enemies, not destroying the remnant of the house of Saul or its late adherents, and not showing partiality (as Saul had done) to the members of his own tribe.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. A league Consisting of solemn stipulations on both sides.
Before the Lord This phrase is to be understood here as at Jdg 11:11, where see note.
Anointed David king over Israel On the anointing of kings see note on 1Sa 10:1. This was the third time that David was anointed. 2Sa 2:4; 1Sa 16:13.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
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.
Ver. 3. And king David made a league with them, ] sc., That he would be their liege-lord, as they would be his liege-people; that is, as the word signifieth, mutually bound each to other.
In Hebron.
And they anointed David king.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
made a league = solemnised a covenant. anointed David. See note on 1Sa 16:13.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
So all: Exo 3:16, 1Ch 11:3
made: 1Sa 11:15, 2Ki 11:17, 2Ch 23:16, Neh 9:38
before: Jdg 11:11, 1Sa 23:18
anointed: 2Sa 2:4, 1Sa 16:13
Reciprocal: Gen 23:2 – Kirjatharba Gen 35:27 – Mamre Gen 49:8 – thy father’s 1Sa 8:4 – the elders 1Ki 1:34 – Zadok 2Ki 11:12 – anointed him 2Ki 21:24 – made Josiah 1Ch 10:14 – turned 1Ch 14:8 – anointed 2Ch 23:3 – made a covenant 2Ch 23:11 – anointed him Psa 21:3 – preventest Psa 55:20 – broken Psa 58:1 – O congregation Psa 75:2 – When Act 13:22 – he raised
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 5:3. King David made a league with them It is not said what the contents of this league or covenant were. The Jews think it was an act of oblivion and indemnity for all injuries done on either side, whether of Judah against the other tribes, or of all the other tribes against Judah. But in that case the league would rather have been between the tribes than with the king. It is therefore probable that it included a great deal more, and that David obliged himself to rule them according to Gods laws, and that the people promised obedience to him agreeably to the same; and that both the king and the people ratified their engagements by solemn sacrifices, and appeals to God for the sincere performance of them. All this, being done as in the presence of Him who fills heaven and earth, and to whose all-seeing eye the hearts and ways of mankind are without a covering, is properly said to have been before the Lord, although it was not before the ark, that symbol of the divine presence, for that certainly was not now at Hebron. They anointed David king over Israel That is, they desired the high- priest to anoint him, whose office it was; and thereby expressed their consent that he should reign over them. David was anointed in all three times; first by Samuel in his fathers house, 1Sa 16:13; then when the tribe of Judah owned him for their king, 2Sa 2:4; and now, when all Israel did the same.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
5:3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron {b} before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
(b) That is, taking the Lord to witness: for the ark was still in Abinadab’s house.