In contrast to Saul’s reactive posture (returning to his hometown of Gibeah after being crowned king), David was proactive. He took the initiative: the verb went
is in the singular, giving prominence to David in the campaign.1
The anointing of David is immediately followed by his capture of Jerusalem. The intervening seven-and-a-half-year reign in Hebron is omitted (2 Samuel 5:4–5). The conquest of the Canaanite fortress Jebus, the subsequent transformation of it into Jerusalem, the city of David, and the de facto capital of the nation are here presented as the first major results of David’s anointing.2
Jerusalem was formerly known as Jebus since it had been inhabited by the Jebusites (Judges 19:10–11; 1 Chronicles 1:14). The Jebusites had been living in Canaan (Numbers 13:29; Joshua 11:3) but their land had been promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 15:18–21; Exodus 3:8). Accordingly, the Jebusites were one of seven nations that the Israelites were to destroy as they took possession of the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–2; Deuteronomy 20:17–18).3
Jerusalem was an ancient city-state that Abraham knew as Salem when he met Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). During the Israelite conquest of Canaan, its king had been executed and the tribe of Judah had captured it. However, it was within Benjaminite territory, and they were unable to dislodge the Jebusites who lived there (Joshua 10:1–5; Joshua 12:7, Joshua 12:10; Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:8, Judges 1:21).4 The Chronicler considers it significant that David was the one to drive out these obstinate enemies and complete the task begun by Joshua. The city Jebus was a rocky site surrounded by valleys, which gave its occupants a great sense of security. By the time of David, however, the Jebusite inhabitants had become overconfident within their walled city on top of the hill of Zion, arrogantly saying to David, You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off,
thinking, David cannot come in here
(2 Samuel 5:6).5 The Chronicler’s lack of reference to David being mocked by the pagan rulers of Jebus is designed to play down any signs of David’s weakness.
A touch of irony appears in this portion of the narrative. The Jebusites boldly proclaim, You will not come in here,
but the Chronicler ridicules this defiance. He states that David not only entered Jerusalem but adds that he took up residence in the stronghold
(1 Chronicles 11:5). The city was taken and became the city of David by right of conquest.
And so the pagan place Jebus is renamed Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 11:4). It should be noted that the Chronicler refers parenthetically to Jerusalem as Jerusalem, that is Jebus
in 1 Chronicles 11:4. This is one of only three places where Jebus is mentioned (see also Joshua 18:28; Judges 19:10). The connection with Jebus and the Jebusite land is quite significant. 1 Chronicles 21:18–22:1 indicates that the temple was built on the threshing floor of Ornan (or Araunah; see 2 Samuel 24:16, 2 Samuel 24:18) the Jebusite. The connection with Jebus and the Jebusite land is quite significant. 2 Samuel 24:16, 2 Samuel 24:18). Referring to Jebus at this point might be the way in which the Chronicler is claiming that David’s city and the temple were established in neutral terrain between Judah and Benjamin.6
The Chronicler stresses the role of Joab, who is not mentioned in 2 Samuel 2:1–3:39. He identifies Joab as a son of Zeruiah,
a snippet of information to make clear that Joab was closely related to David in that Zeruiah was David’s sister and therefore Joab’s uncle (1 Chronicles 2:16). His reference to Joab as David’s nephew serves to support David’s strength, if only obliquely, because such courage runs in the family.7 The Chronicler adds significant details about Joab not found elsewhere. This probably explains why Joab continued to be in David’s service after he killed Abner (2 Samuel 3:26–27). David never forgot Joab’s crime and expected God to punish him (2 Samuel 3:39; 1 Kings 2:5–6, 1 Kings 2:28–34).8
Joab’s reputation leaves much to be desired in Samuel/Kings (2 Samuel 3:27–29; 2 Samuel 11:16–17; 2 Samuel 14:19–24; 2 Samuel 20:9–10; 1 Kings 1:7; 1 Kings 2:5–6), but always appears in a good light in Chronicles (1 Chronicles 19:10–15; 1 Chronicles 20:2; 1 Chronicles 21:4). The Chronicler’s purpose is not the political intrigue of the royal house or to expose Joab’s seedier side, but the establishment of the Davidic kingdom in which Joab plays a role.9
Also of note is the fact that the Samuel record fails to mention that Joab was the man who gained access to the city through the water shaft (2 Samuel 5:8). The expression Joab…went up first
has been variously interpreted. It could simply mean that he was the leader of the expedition, or it could mean that he climbed up a Jebusite water shaft that led to the underground water supply for the city. The Chronicler, however, is silent on the means Joab used to achieve his ends. The fact that he was promised by David that he would be the head
of the army, is a fact that Samuel omits.10
4 And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, that is, Jebus, where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.