Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 5
David was the king that God chose for Israel. Deuteronomy 12:5-7 and 12:11-14 describe Jerusalem as the place that God chose. Jerusalem was the city that David selected to be the capital of Israel.
David knew that region well. His family’s home was in Bethlehem, about 6 miles (10 kilometres) from Jerusalem.
Jerusalem was a good place to establish a capital city. It is close to the ancient main route that goes between the north and south of Israel. It is in the hills, and the valleys round it form a natural defence for the city. It is on the border between the land that God gave to the tribes (family groups) of Benjamin (Saul’s tribe) and Judah (David’s tribe). So, its position was very suitable to be the capital of all Israel.
In the past, Jerusalem (then called Salem) had a king, Melchizedek, who was a priest of the true God (Genesis 14:18-20). However, now the rulers of Jerusalem belonged to the people called Jebusites, some of the original inhabitants of the country.
David was eager to have peaceful relationships with all the people, including the Jebusites (24:18-24). However many people, including Jerusalem’s rulers, did not want to be friendly with David. They even laughed at him. They said that he was too weak even to fight against the weakest of their people. ‘Even blind people and people who could not walk, would defeat him.’ That was how they insulted him. Probably, they caused much trouble for Israel’s people as they passed there. So it was necessary for David to attack and to defeat them.
Next part: David's soldiers defeat the Jebusites in the battle for Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:7-8)
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© 2023, Keith Simons.