The Philistines, it seems, were happy enough when David was just king over Judah. While there was civil war between Israel and Judah, God’s people were obviously in a weak position. But this united kingdom is a far bigger threat to the Philistines, and so they go on the offensive. But David, in reliance on God, and with the blessing […]

If David’s exaltation has been a long time coming, the capture of Jerusalem has been even longer in the making. Eight hundred years before, God had promised Abraham – at the end of Genesis 15 – ‘To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, […]

This chapter describes one of the most momentous events in the whole Bible – God’s chosen king reigns visibly on earth – no longer just over a single tribe – but over all Israel. In fact, the bit about Hiram sending trees to David so he could build a house is a hint of David’s fame spreading even beyond Israel. […]