The Jebusites were a Canaanite people who had lived in the land for a very long time (see Genesis 15:18–21). They were the last official Canaanite enclave in the middle of the Promised Land.1 By attacking this city, David acted to complete the conquest which Joshua started (see Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17; Exodus 13:5; Exodus 23:23; Exodus 33:2; Exodus 34:11; Deuteronomy 7:1; Joshua 3:10; Joshua 12:8)2 and he did what the Israelites had not been able to do up to this point (Joshua 15:63; Judges 1:8, Judges 1:21).3 Since it was his first act as king, it demonstrated his obedience to the Lord and confirmed that he was a man after God’s own heart.4
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off” thinking, “David cannot come in here.”