Wesley Corpus

Chapter V David is anointed king by all the tribes, ver. 1 - 5. Takes the strong hold of Zion, ver. 6 - 10. David builds him an house; his kingdom is established, ver. 11, 12. Has more children, ver. 13 - 16. Conquers the Philistines, ver. 17 - 25. Shalt feed - That is, rule them, and take care of them, as a shepherd doth of his sheep, Psal 78:70,71. This expression, he useth to admonish David, that he was not made a king to advance his own glory, but for the good of his people; whom he ought to rule with all tenderness, and to watch over with all diligence. A league - Whereby David obliged himself to rule them according to God's laws; and the people promised obedience to him. Cannot come - They confided in the strength of their fortifications, which they thought so impregnable, that the blind and the lame were sufficient to defend them, against the most powerful assailant. And probably they set a parcel of blind and lame people, invalids or maimed soldiers, to make their appearance on the wall, in contempt of David and his men. To the gutter - That is, whosoever scaleth the fort, or getteth up to the top of it, where the gutter was. That are hated - The Jebusites, and the lame, and the blind, Who had probably themselves insulted him, and blasphemed God. He shall be - These words are fitly supplied out of 1Chron 11:6, where they are expressed. They said &c. - That is, whence it became a proverb, or a common saying, used by David, and others, the blind and the lame Jebusites, were set to keep the house, that is, the fort of Zion; and to keep others from coming into it; but now they are shut out of it, and none of them, either of the Jebusites, or of blind and lame persons, shall be admitted to come into it again. Which David might ordain, to keep up the memory of this great exploit, and of the insolent carriage of the Jebusites. Millo - Which seems to have been the town - hall or, state - house, near the wall of the city of Zion. King over Israel - That he might be a blessing to them, and they might be happy under his administration. David took, &c.