Scholars debate how David captured Jerusalem. One view is that David’s men entered the city through a water tunnel. This tunnel may have carried water into the city and also allowed soldiers to move inside. However, not all interpreters agree with this explanation.
Another view is that David and his men captured Jerusalem through a more typical military attack. They may have built siege works (structures used to attack a city) and climbed over the city walls. The Hebrew word often translated water tunnel appears only here and in Psalm 42:7, where it is translated “waterfalls.“ Because of this, some scholars think the word may be figurative. In that case, it would describe the violence and intensity of the attack, not a literal tunnel.
The blind and the lame will never enter the palace: The word palace could mean either the temple, which was not yet built, or David’s palace. This saying may help explain why Mephibosheth, a descendant of Saul who was disabled, did not become king (see study note on 2 Samuel 4:4).
David also promised that those who led the siege of Jerusalem would become commanders in his army (see 1 Chronicles 11:6).