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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV And when David enquired 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.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB 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.
- NLT 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
When David inquires again, the Lord directs a different strategy of flanking the enemy near the mulberry trees. God gives specific guidance for this new battle.
Overview
David seeks the Lord a second time, and this time God instructs him not to attack head-on but to circle behind and strike from the front of the balsam trees. The changed tactics show that David did not rely on past patterns but on fresh divine direction. His careful obedience contrasts with self-reliant presumption and models trust in God's specific leading.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- John 9:6–7When Jesus had said this, He spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes.
- Matt 8:23–25When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him.
- 1 Chr 14:14So 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.
- Matt 9:29–30Then He touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you.”
- Josh 8:2And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set up an ambush behind the city.”
- Josh 8:7you are to rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 5:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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