MPV Commentary

His Victories over the Philistines.

The Philistine army marched up to Jerusalem with the intention of destroying David before he could solidify his power (1Sa 23:15; 24:2-3). They believed that as king, David would eventually avenge Israel's defeat at Gilboa and attack their territory. Additionally, they feared that David's knowledge of their weaknesses would give him an advantage in any future invasion.

The Philistines arrived at Baal-perazim (Isa 28:21), where they were defeated by David in battle. This engagement took place in the valley of Rephaim, a few miles west of Jerusalem.

When the Philistines retreated, they left behind their idols (2Sa 5:21).

The following year, the Philistines launched another campaign, taking the same route as before. However, David did not engage them in battle, following divine instructions.

David was advised not to pursue the Philistines directly but instead to attack from a different angle, by circling around a baca-grove and striking their rear.

The reason for this strategy was that God had gone ahead of David, signaling the perfect moment for the attack. A sudden gust of wind rustling through the mulberry trees (1Sa 23:16) indicated that it was time to strike. The speed and ferocity of David's response were like a burst dam, sweeping away all in its path.

This decisive battle took place from Gibeon to Gazer (2Sa 5:25), which controlled access to the Philistine cities. By winning this battle, David effectively liberated the entire mountain region of Judah as far as their western border.