2 Samuel 5:18

Translations

Modern

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

Traditional

The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

Literal

And the Philistines went and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

Latin

Philisthiim autem venientes diffusi sunt in valle Raphaim.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

Notes

2 Samuel 5:18

The valley of Rephaim is located between Bethlehem and Jerusalem (compare 2 Samuel 23:13–14).

2 Samuel 5:17–25

For the first time as king, David fought the Philistines in battle.
Up to this point in 2 Samuel, David’s life follows a clear and repeated pattern:
- He was crowned king in Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4).
- He won a battle (2 Samuel 2:12–17).
- He grew stronger (2 Samuel 3:1).
- He started a large family (2 Samuel 3:2–5).
A similar pattern appears again later:
- David was crowned king in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:3).
- He grew stronger again (2 Samuel 5:10).
- He expanded his family (2 Samuel 5:13–14).
- He won another battle (2 Samuel 5:17–25).
This repeated pattern emphasizes both of David’s coronations. Each one is marked by signs of God’s blessing and success.

2 Samuel 5:1–25

After the murder of Abner and Ish-bosheth, the elders of the northern tribes accepted David as their king. So, David gained:

an extended empire (2 Samuel 5:1–5),
a new capital city (2 Samuel 5:6–10),
a new palace (2 Samuel 5:11),
a new family (2 Samuel 5:13–16), and
renewed confidence (2 Samuel 5:17–25).

Theme notes and profiles

David The Philistines

Events

Reign of David

Related verses

Joshua 15:8
From there the border went up the Valley of Ben-hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.
2 Samuel 23:13
At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
Genesis 14:5
In the fourteenth year, Chedorlaomer and the kings allied with him went out and defeated the Rephaites in Ashteroth-karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh-kiriathaim,
Joshua 17:15
Joshua answered them, “If you have so many people that the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go to the forest and clear for yourself an area in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”
Isaiah 17:5
…as the reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.
Joshua 18:16
Then it went down to the foot of the hill that faces the Valley of Ben-hinnom at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim and ran down the Valley of Hinnom toward the southern slope of the Jebusites and downward to En-rogel.
1 Chronicles 11:15
Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

Parallels

1 Chronicles 14:8–17

Places

Philistia: An ancient people and region in Canaan Valley of Rephaim: Valley near Jerusalem, site of battles

Glossary

David Philistia, Philistines Samuel, Books of First and Second Valley of Rephaim

Topics

Giants, Rephaim: The: The Valley of David Obtained Victories Over the Philistines In Philistines: Defeated by David Rain: David Delivered By Rephaim: A Valley The Philistines: David: Often Defeated in the Course of his Reign Valleys: Rephaim or Giants

2 Samuel 5:18

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Translations

Original

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Events

Related verses

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Glossary

Topics