2 Samuel 5:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

NIV: Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion—which is the City of David.

NASB: Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

CSB: Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

NLT: But David captured the fortress of Zion, which is now called the City of David.

KJV: Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

NKJV: Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).

This summarizes the battle for Jerusalem. The Jebusites, who have occupied the city of Jerusalem for many generations, have taunted David that he will never take their city (2 Samuel 5:6). David does exactly that. First Chronicles 11:6 says that he begins by challenging his men, saying, "Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and commander." Joab, his nephew and long-time general, takes the challenge.

The revelation of David's victory is in the new name given to Jerusalem. Instead of being called "Jebus," as the home of the Jebusites, the stronghold will now be known as "the city of David." This is the first mention of the name "Zion" in the Bible, but it may have been another name for Jerusalem or the mountain it sits on before this moment. From this time forward, Zion will become known in Israel and throughout history and prophecy as God's holy city and the beautiful representation of His promises to His people.

David's decision to move to Jerusalem is smart for several reasons. He lives in Hebron, in central Judah, but Jerusalem is on the border of Judah, where he's from, and Benjamin, the tribe of Saul. He's not disrupting an established Israelite city; he's taking over a Gentile city that the Israelites were supposed to have conquered 400 years before. Although he nicknames it "City of David," he doesn't officially rename it after himself. He's a man of war. "Jerusalem" describes a place of peace, primarily with God.

Jerusalem is first mentioned as Salem, the city of King Melchizedek whom Abraham honored with tithes (Genesis 14:18–20). "Salem" means peace. "Jebus" describes a "threshing place," somewhere beaten down or even polluted. The Jebusites are mentioned in the Table of Nations under Noah's grandson Canaan (Genesis 10:16). The meaning of "Zion" is unclear. It may refer to a fortification or a dry and sunny place. "Jerusalem" means founded in peace.

In this era of David's reign, "Jerusalem" is just what modern people call "the Old City." It's an elongated walled area that stretches off the southwest corner of the temple mount.

Second Samuel 5:6–10 describes David's establishment of a new capital city. He has been in Hebron, in the heart of Judah, for seven years. He decides to move to Jebus, an easily defendable city closer to central Israel. He and his men take it from the native Jebusites, and he renames it Jerusalem. David knows he owes his success to God and God alone. David's people move in, and the king of Tyre helps him build a house where he has many more children (2 Samuel 5:11–16). This information is also found in 1 Chronicles 11:2–9.

Second Samuel 5 is a series of vignettes describing how God blesses David after his inauguration as king over the nation. David took Jerusalem from the Jebusites and made the city the nation's capital (2 Samuel 5:6–9). His first international ally, Hiram, king of Tyre, built his palace (2 Samuel 5:11). His family grew: exponentially (2 Samuel 5:13–16)! And he soundly beat his enemies (2 Samuel 5:17–25). David did all this because of God's favor, to bless the nation, not through his own skill or because of any good in him (2 Samuel 5:10, 12). First Chronicles 11:1–9 and 14:1–17 also record these events.

Second Samuel 5 is a pivot point for all of Israel's history. After Saul's son Ish-bosheth is killed, no opposition remains to David's kingship (2 Samuel 4:5–6). Convinced by Abner before his death to follow David (2 Samuel 3:17–19), the elders of Israel gather at Hebron to anoint David king over the entire nation. David moves his capital to Jerusalem and defends the nation against the Philistines. Now, he has enough security to bring the ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1–15). The following chapters seem to collectively describe David's accomplishments (2 Samuel 5:9—10:19) and his mistakes (2 Samuel 11—20).