Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version so David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. New Living Translation And again David asked the LORD what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the LORD replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. English Standard Version And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. Berean Standard Bible So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. King James Bible And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. New King James Version Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, “You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. New American Standard Bible So David inquired of the LORD, but He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. NASB 1995 When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. NASB 1977 And when David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. Legacy Standard Bible So David asked of Yahweh, and He said, “You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. Amplified Bible When David inquired of the LORD, He said, “You shall not go up, but circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees. Christian Standard Bible So David inquired of the LORD, and he answered, “Do not attack directly, but circle around behind them and come at them opposite the balsam trees. Holman Christian Standard Bible So David inquired of the LORD, and He answered, “Do not make a frontal assault. Circle around behind them and attack them opposite the balsam trees. American Standard Version And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees. Contemporary English Version David asked the LORD what he should do, and the LORD answered: Don't attack them from the front. Circle around behind and attack from among the balsam trees. English Revised Version And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. GOD'S WORD® Translation David asked the LORD, and he answered, "Don't attack now, but circle around behind them, and come at them in front of the balsam trees. Good News Translation Once more David consulted the LORD, who answered, "Don't attack them from here, but go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees. International Standard Version When David asked the LORD about it, he said, "Don't attack them directly. Instead, go around to the rear and attack them opposite those balsam trees. Majority Standard Bible So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. NET Bible So David asked the LORD what he should do. This time the LORD said to him, "Don't march straight up. Instead, circle around behind them and come against them opposite the trees. New Heart English Bible And David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD said to him, "You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them opposite the poplar trees. Webster's Bible Translation And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up: but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees. World English Bible When David inquired of Yahweh, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand David asks of YHWH, and He says, “You do not go up, turn around to their rear, and you have come to them from the front [[or in front]] of the mulberries, Young's Literal Translation and David asketh of Jehovah, and He saith, 'Thou dost not go up, turn round unto their rear, and thou hast come to them over-against the mulberries, Smith's Literal Translation And David will ask in God, and he will say, Thou shalt not go up: turn about behind them and thou shalt cover against them from before the weepings. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go not up against them, but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees. Catholic Public Domain Version Then David consulted the Lord, “Shall I ascend against the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my hands?” And he responded: “You shall not ascend against them; instead, circle behind their back. And you shall come to them from the side opposite the balsam trees. New American Bible and again David inquired of the LORD, who replied: Do not attack the front—circle behind them and come against them near the balsam trees. New Revised Standard Version When David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when David inquired of the LORD, the LORD said to him, You shall not go up; but circle behind them, and come upon them opposite Bachim. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And David asked of LORD JEHOVAH and LORD JEHOVAH said to him: “Do not go up, but turn yourself from behind them and come upon them from opposite Bakim OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And when David inquired of the LORD, He said: 'Thou shalt not go up; make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees. Brenton Septuagint Translation And David enquired of the Lord: and the Lord said, Thou shalt not go up to meet them: turn from them, and thou shalt meet them near the place of weeping. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Two Victories over the Philistines…22Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”… Cross References 1 Chronicles 14:14 So David again inquired of God, who answered him, “Do not march up after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. Joshua 6:2-5 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. / March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. / Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. ... Judges 7:2-7 Then the LORD said to Gideon, “You have too many men for Me to deliver Midian into their hands, lest Israel glorify themselves over Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ / Now, therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the men: ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand of them turned back, but ten thousand remained. / Then the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go. But if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” ... 1 Samuel 23:2-4 So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go and attack these Philistines?” And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” / But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” / Once again, David inquired of the LORD, and the LORD answered him: “Go at once to Keilah, for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 1 Samuel 30:8 and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.” 2 Samuel 2:1 Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD. 2 Samuel 21:1 During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 1 Kings 22:5-6 But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.” / So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.” 2 Kings 3:11-12 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here? Let us inquire of the LORD through him.” And one of the servants of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” / Jehoshaphat affirmed, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. Isaiah 30:21 And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” Jeremiah 42:2-3 Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes. / Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.” Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 10:19-20 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Luke 6:12-13 In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God. / When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles: John 16:13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. Treasury of Scripture And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, You shall not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come on them over against the mulberry trees. enquired 2 Samuel 5:19 And David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. fetch Joshua 8:2,7 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it… 1 Chronicles 14:14 Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. Matthew 9:29,30 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you… the mulberry trees. 1 Chronicles 14:14,15 Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees… Jump to Previous Attack Balsam Circle Circuit Compass David Directions Directly Fetch Front Inquired Mulberries Mulberry Mulberry-Trees Opposite Over-Against Rear Round Spice-Trees Straight Trees TurnJump to Next Attack Balsam Circle Circuit Compass David Directions Directly Fetch Front Inquired Mulberries Mulberry Mulberry-Trees Opposite Over-Against Rear Round Spice-Trees Straight Trees Turn2 Samuel 5 1. The tribes come to Hebron and anoint David over Israel,4. David's age 6. Taking Zion from the Jebusites, he dwells in it 11. Hiram sends to David, 13. Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem 17. David, directed by God, smites the Philistines at Baal-perazim 22. And again at the mulberry trees So David inquired of the LORD This phrase highlights David's consistent reliance on divine guidance. The Hebrew root for "inquired" is "שָׁאַל" (sha'al), which means to ask or consult. This reflects David's humility and recognition of God's sovereignty. In a historical context, David's inquiry signifies his dependence on God rather than his own military prowess, setting a precedent for leaders to seek divine wisdom in decision-making. and He answered Do not march up but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So Davidדָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse inquired וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל (way·yiš·’al) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand of the LORD, בַּֽיהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel who answered, וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “Do not לֹ֣א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no march straight up, תַעֲלֶ֑ה (ṯa·‘ă·leh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively but circle הָסֵב֙ (hā·sêḇ) Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround around אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to behind אַ֣חֲרֵיהֶ֔ם (’a·ḥă·rê·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 310: The hind or following part them and attack וּבָ֥אתָ (ū·ḇā·ṯā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go them לָהֶ֖ם (lā·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew in front מִמּ֥וּל (mim·mūl) Preposition-m Strong's 4136: Abrupt, a precipice, the front, opposite of the balsam trees. בְּכָאִֽים׃ (bə·ḵā·’îm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1057: The weeping tree Links 2 Samuel 5:23 NIV2 Samuel 5:23 NLT 2 Samuel 5:23 ESV 2 Samuel 5:23 NASB 2 Samuel 5:23 KJV 2 Samuel 5:23 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 5:23 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 5:23 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 5:23 French Bible 2 Samuel 5:23 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 5:23 When David inquired of Yahweh he said (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) |
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