2 Samuel 5:17-25--David Defeats the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:17-25
English Standard Version
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David Defeats the Philistines
17 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the LORD said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” 20 And David came to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. And he said, “The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim. 21 And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

22 And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. 24 And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 25 And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.

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The Philistines heard about David being anointed king by all the tribes of Israel.  They didn't seem to care much when he was just the king over the tribe of Judah, but now they are ready to gather all their forces together to try to find (and presumably kill) David.  David hears about their plans and heads out to the stronghold (it doesn't say which one, but I assume this is the one he stayed in when he was hiding from Saul and not the stronghold of Zion because that is up on a high mountain and this text says he went down to the stronghold, so it is probably one of the ones down in the wilderness, maybe even one of the ones close to the Dead Sea).

The Philistines spread out in the Valley of the Rephaim (remember that the Rephaim were some of the giants that lived in the land during the time of the conquest), and David prayed to the LORD to inquire as to if he should go to war with the Philistines and if the LORD would give them into his hand.  The LORD tells David that he should certainly go to war with them and that He will certainly deliver the Philistines into the hand of David.

David's men broke through the Philistine lines with such force that David said of it, "​The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood."  So the name of that place was called Baal-perazim (Literally "God of Divisions."  So named for having rents, bursts, or destruction).  This place is also called Mount Perazim in Isaiah 28:21 and is known today as Jabel Aly.  The Philistines were so defeated that they left their idols there and David and his men carried them away (hopefully to destroy them).

The Philistines did not learn the first time and gathered again in the same place.  David inquired again whether he should go up to them, but the LORD gave David a different battle plan this time.  He told David not to take a front-on assault approach, but instead to sneak up from the rear this time.  The LORD gave David a sign to listen for, for the LORD was going to send His army in advance of David's and David would hear what would sound like marching on the tops of the balsam trees when the angelic warriors were marching towards the Philistines.  Then Israel was to wake up and strike down the Philistines, which they did all the way from Geba to Gezer.  We won't see another war with the Philistines until 2 Samuel 21, when they will try to take advantage of the political instability going on in Israel at that time.