DAVID ANOINTED A KING David was at last, and after a ong time, and in the right time, anointed a king over all the tribes of Israel, having practiced, along the past years, the persistent life of strife, humility-not to seek what is his, but what is others and love-not to avenge himself. David has practiced works of true love to reign and conquer, despite the opposition of adversaries. 1- David anointed a king 1-5. 2- David’s victory over the Jebusites 6-10. 3- Hiram’s friendship with David 11. 4- David’s kingdom established 12-16. 5- Opposition of the adversaries and their defeat 17-25. 1- David anointed a king: That was the third time for David to be anointed a king; and it was high time for him to reign through a unanimous choice of the whole people of Israel. The elders of Israel came to the king in Hebron, and said: “Indeed we are your bone and your flesh. Also, in time past, when Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel’” (2 Samuel 5: 1-2). David was trained on strife and love: he knew how to deal with Saul’s envy, with love and decency; and how to face the death of Saul, Abner, and Ishbosheth, with no delight, but to lament them, and to avenge the blood of the innocent. He readily received Abigail’s counsel, to refrain from avenging himself; as it was expected from him, to give and not to seek what is his own.... By this spirit, he lived for so long years, and by those consistent experiences in the Lord, he received the elders in Hebron with love with no single word of admonishment. He did not say to them: ‘If I am your bone and flesh, If I have been the cause of the triumphs of Israel; and if I have been chosen by the Lord a shepherd and a ruler, why then, have you pursued me all those years, and why have you not defended me before the rejected Saul? Why have you remained for more than 5 years almost without a king under Ishbosheth, set by Abner a king over you; Why have you disregarded my existence in Hebron?. David was a symbol of the true King, the Lord of glory Jesus Christ, who, though eternally anointed to reign, He came in the fullness of time, to walk humbly, along the way of the cross, “When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Romans 5: 10); Without hurting our feelings, for our previous denial and opposition, in true love, He stood knocking on the door of our heart, to enter and reign, if we opened it up to Him, with our complete freedom. At last, the elders of Israel realized who David was, and their relationship to him, saying: “We are your bone and your flesh.” We also are proud of our relationship to the Son of David quoting the words of the apostle Paul: “For we are members of His body, of His flesh and His bones” (Ephesians 5: 30) Do not you know that your bodies are members of Christ? “(1 Corinthians 6: 15); “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12: 27). 30 The Word of God came incarnated, to reign in us, but not through authority or commitment; but to set us as members of His holy body, and to carry the fellowship of His nature. 2- David’s victory over the Jebusites: ‘Jebuse’-the name of Jerusalem in the days of the Jebusites – had been of small size, compared to Jerusalem in the days of king Solomon1. It was more convenient to become David’s capital than Hebron: Firstly, because of its very distinguished location of high elevation (Psalm 48: 2); surrounded by mountains (Psalm 125: 2), and deep valleys on three sides, some 800 feet deep; And secondly, because it was located on the borders of the territories of Judah and Benjamin, to make both satisfied (the tribe of Judah, from which David came, and that of Benjamin, the tribe of Saul). As to Jebusites2, they were a Canaanite tribe, before Israel entered the promised land (Genesis 10: 16; 15: 21; Exodus 3: 8). During exodus, they were a mountain tribe (Numbers 13: 29; Joshua 11: 3); that joined forces with a number of kings against Gibeon, because it made a covenant with Joshua. Joshua defeated them and killed their king ‘Adoni Zedwk’ (Joshua 10: 23-26), and gave their land to Benjamin (Joshua 18: 28); It was later taken over and burnt down by the men of Judah, having been on the border of their territory (Joshua 15: 8; Judges 1: 8). Nevertheless the Jebusites did not lose their stronghold, as claimed by Josephus3 but dwelt in it as strangers, together with the children of Judah and Benjamin (Joshua 15: 63; Judges 1: 21; 19: 11); and stayed there, even after David took over their stronghold (2 Samuel 24: 16-18; 2 Chronicles 3: 1). The Jebusites were confident that David could never take over their stronghold because of its fortified location, even if it was dwelt by the blind and lame; hence they sarcastically said: “You shall not come in here; (even) the blind and the lame will repel you” (2 Samuel 5: 6). David proclaimed that whoever would climb up by way of the water shaft, and defeat the Jebusites, (the shaft was the way to enter the stronghold),would be chief and captain (2 Samuel 5: 8; 1 Chronicles 11; 6). That had been realized by Joab the son of Zeruiah who entered the city and became the commander of the army (1 Chronicles 11: 6). David then dwelt in the stronghold, and called it ‘the city of David.’ Concerning the taking over of Jebuse by David, we notice the following: a- The Jebusites sarcastically said to him: “You shall not come in here; (even) the blind and the lame will repel you” (2 Samuel 5: 6). In other words, they wanted to say, that even if they were blind and lame, David with all his army, would not be able to take over their city. But, having just done that, David says: “There are no more blind or lame in the city;” a symbolic proclamation of the strength and wisdom of his men who were all capable of seeing and walking. What happened with David, was a symbol of what was to be realized by the “Son of David;” The world was taken over by the devil, who was called “the ruler of this world” (John 14: 30); the world became a captive under his feet {‘Jebuse’ means (trampled under feet); and mankind was likened to the blind and the lame: their inner eyes 1 The New Westminster Dict. of the Bible, p. 449 2 Ibid. 3 Antiq. 5: 2: 2. 31 blinded to behold the kingdom of heaven; and their inner feet crippled to walk along the royal way.... Despite this, those blind and lame thought of themselves as fortified, and thought that the Son of David would not be able to establish His kingdom in the life of mankind. Yet the Son of David did enter ‘Jebuse,’ namely the world and set by the cross His kingdom; recovered the hearts on which the devil reigned; and took away all the blindness of insight, and the inability to walk; So that the true believers were able to see, and to hasten to walk toward the kingdom of heaven with no one among them, spiritually blind or lame. b- Having taken over ‘Jebuse,’ and called it his personal city, that carried his name, it was said:”Then David built all around from the Millo (the fortress) and inward” (2 Samuel 5: 9). What is meant by “all around,” is that the city became like a circle, with no point of start, nor a point of end; namely, it came to carry a new feature:, exaltation above time, to turn into an eternal heavenly city, that death is incapable of ending its being. That is the Church of the New Testament, which,, after having been a ‘Jebuse’; namely, trampled under feet, became heavenly, through her heavenly Groom, and King (the Son of David). And as the apostle Paul says: “He made us sit together in the heavenly places in Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 2: 6). And St. Clement of Alexandria says: [The earth turns-for the believer with the spiritual knowledge (the Gnostic)-into heaven. I wish the Son of David would take over our inner ‘Jebuse,’ to turn it into the ‘City of David,’ His personal (rounded) or heavenly city, driving away from it every blindness of insight, and every paralysis of feet! c- The author ends his talk by saying: “So David went on and became great, and the Lord of hosts was with him” (2 Samuel 5: 10). David’s greatness grew, not because he took over the fortified stronghold of ‘Jebuse,” but because the Lord of hosts was with him. Here the Lord was called “the Lord of hosts,’ due to the fact that He was, and is always, the real leader of His people who fought to grant them victory and glory. That was David’s experience that he expressed in his psalms, saying: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? “ (Psalm 27: 1); and: “He (God) is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” (Psalm 62:5, 6). St. Augustine says: [The Lord grants me both the knowledge of Himself, and salvation; Who can take me away from Him? ... The Lord scatters all the attacks and snares of my enemy; I fear no one1] . That is the secret of our growing and consistent glory! 3- Hiram’s friendship with David: With every true triumph, the believer confronts two situations: Opposition from the enemy that would lead him to further conquests; as well as the attraction of some, to God who works in him. Thus, as David grew in greatness, because the Lord of hosts was with him, the enemy was aroused to increase his opposition toward him; but at the same time, David drew to him some of the neighboring kingdoms, glorifying God in him as was demonstrated by the action of Hiram, the king of Tyre. 1On Ps. 27. 32 The king of Tyre, that was at that time in its peak of greatness, sent messengers to David and friendship grew between them, that endured up to the days of king Solomon and even during the days of the prophet ‘Amos’ (Amos 1: 9). Hiram realized that Israel would be in need of a great construction activity, after such continuous victories that were realized during David’s time; That was why he sent him cedar trees, and carpenters and masons (2 Samuel 5: 11). The two kingdoms cooperated together for their mutual benefit: Israel made use of Tyre, as a sea-side land, for its imports and exports; while Tyre made use of Israel, as a way for its commerce, beside importing from it its need of grains and other products. Our peace with God inside us, produces peace with others, and transforms the circumstances surrounding us for our benefit and edification; Even the opposition of the wicked, will be transformed by God for our growth and our inner joy. I say, How much we need, to solve our problems-whatever they may be-to start in the light of God’s work in us; hence, the grace of God would work in and by us to transform every thing for our good; to proclaim with the apostle Paul: “All things (would) work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8: 28). 4-David’s kingdom established: After 20 years of secretly anointing David in Bethlehem, it was said: “David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for His people Israel’s sake” (2 Samuel 5: 12). David waited patiently all those years in faith, to be trained by the grace of God, on the care for the people of God. And now, God has established His Kingdom for Israel’s sake. It is thus fitting for us-whatever the extent of our talents and the greatness of our success are-to realize that all these are divine gifts, given to us for the sake of the edification of the holy congregation. For the sake of mankind, the Lord Christ incarnated; For their sake He reigned on a tree, resurrected and ascended to heaven; and for their sake, he will come again, on the clouds to gather together His believers, and to lift them up to the bosom of the Father. So, being members of His body, it is fitting for us to carry His same thought, and to stare up all our capabilities for edifying others. The apostle Paul says: “Love does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13: 5). 5-Opposition of the adversaries and their defeat: If David’s success gave him grace in the eyes of Hiram, king of Tyre, to send him cider wood and masons, as a sign of practical friendship, on the opposite side, that same success doubled the intensity of the opposition of the adversaries. with every triumph , we should expect opposition and war if they are not from without, they will be from within; That is why ‘Ben Sirach says: [My son, if you decided to minister to God, prepare yourself for temptation (2: 1)] . The enemies saw in the anointment of David as a king over all the tribes of Israel, and in his growing greatness, an eminent danger to them, especially that the whole people became as one heart with him. They did not fear him while he was in Hebron, a king over just one tribe; they took him lightly; But in ‘Jebuse,’ as he became independent, strong, and his star shined and glittered, they came after him. As for him, because he did not expect war, he went down with his personal guards to his old stronghold ‘Adullam.’ The 33 Philistines searched for him, and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim [Its location is not well known; but it is between Bethlehem and Jerusalem (Joshua 15: 8); known for its fertility (Isaiah 17: 5). In the stronghold, although he was joined by the children of Gad (1 Chronicles 12: 8-15), yet they were still few in number, compared to the enemy troupes. David inquired of the Lord through Abiathar the priest (1 Samuel 23: 11; 30: 7, 8); and the Lord gave him His consent to go to war. He went to ‘Baal Perazim,’ meaning (God or Master of defeats); an elevated position, north of the Valley of Rephaim; the same Mount of Perazim, mentioned in Isaiah 28: 11. How much we need to lean upon the Shepherd of our souls, who proceeds His flock, that walk behind and with Him; saying with the Psalmist: “I have set the Lord before me; Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16: 8). St. Augustine says: [He grants me Himself, so that, in Him, I steadfastly dwell1] . David, together with his men, went up, circled up around behind his enemies, and came upon them in front of the mulberry trees (the weeping trees); as he felt the presence of the Lord, who proceeded to carry him along the way of strife, granting him triumph through His grace. It is as though, if we want the life of triumph over the devil, we are committed to go down to the valley of weeping and tears, to encounter God, our strength; and to hear the Psalmist saying: “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You ... As they pass through the Valley of Baca ; They make it a spring ... They go from strength to strength; Every one of them appears before God in Zion” (Psalm 84: 5-7). St. Jerome says: [Let us meditate for a moment, that we are in that valley; We are not on a mountain; ... We are not in the paradise of Eden; ...We are not on the Mounts of paradise; ... But we are in the lowest reaches of the earth; on the land that is cursed, that produces thorns and thistles...; and as long as we are in the valley of tears, it is not fitting for us to laugh, but rather to weep. The Lord says: “Blessed are you, who weep now, for you shall laugh” (Luke 6: 21). Now we are in the valley of tears; namely, in the world, a place for weeping and not for rejoicing ... The coming world is the one for joy ... The valley of tears is an arena for strife2]. David and his men went down to the valley of tears, to get the free gift of God, more and more; to set forth from strength to strength; He struck the enemy from ‘Geba’ as far as ‘Gezer’(2 Samuel 5: 25). In the valley of tears, his insight was opened to behold God proceed him, pave the way of conquest, and destroy the enemy before him. It is as though the divine presence that fills us with comfort amid the tears, equally terrifies the enemy and utterly destroys him. The word ‘Geba’ means (a hill)3; It is a city in Benjamin (Joshua 18: 24); designated for priests (Joshua 21: 17), facing ‘Michmash’; Nowadays, the village of “Geba’-carrying the same name-is 6 miles north-east of Jerusalem. That means that the enemies fled toward north-east, and not toward their own land to the west, to take refuge in the stronghold in ‘Gebeah’ (1 Samuel 13: 3). Having found no refuge there, they proceeded toward their land as far as Gibeon (1 Chronicles 14: 16); and from it to the entrance of ‘Gezer’ [the word ‘Gezer’ means (portion), or (Bride’s dowry)]; It is on the 1On Ps. 16. 2On Ps. hom. 16. 3 The New Westminster Dict. of the Bible, p. 319. 34 border of their territory, 18 miles north-west of Jerusalem; 5 2/3 miles east of Ekron.
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