Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” New Living Translation When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the LORD is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” English Standard Version 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.” Berean Standard Bible As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” King James Bible And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. New King James Version And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” New American Standard Bible And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” NASB 1995 “It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” NASB 1977 “And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Legacy Standard Bible And it will be that when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then Yahweh will have gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” Amplified Bible And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall pay attention and act promptly, for at that time the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Christian Standard Bible When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the LORD will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” Holman Christian Standard Bible When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the LORD will have marched out ahead of you to attack the camp of the Philistines.” American Standard Version And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. Contemporary English Version Wait until you hear a sound in the treetops like marching troops. Then attack quickly! That sound will mean I have marched out ahead of you to fight the Philistine army. English Revised Version And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then is the LORD gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. GOD'S WORD® Translation When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act immediately because the LORD has gone ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army." Good News Translation When you hear the sound of marching in the treetops, then attack because I will be marching ahead of you to defeat the Philistine army." International Standard Version When you hear the sound of marching coming from the tops of the balsam trees, then be sure to act quickly, since the LORD will have gone out ahead of you to cut down the Philistine army." Majority Standard Bible As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.? NET Bible When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the LORD is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines." New Heart English Bible And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, that then you are to act decisively; for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines." Webster's Bible Translation And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. World English Bible When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand it comes to pass, in your hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then you move sharply, for then YHWH has gone out before you to strike in the camp of the Philistines.” Young's Literal Translation and it cometh to pass, in thy hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then thou dost move sharply, for then hath Jehovah gone out before thee to smite in the camp of the Philistines.' Smith's Literal Translation And it shall be in thy hearing the voice of the going in the heads of the weepings, then thou shalt be active, for then Jehovah will go forth before thee to strike upon the camp of the rovers. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of the pear trees, then shalt thou join battle: for then will the Lord go out before thy face to strike the army of the Philistines. Catholic Public Domain Version And when you hear the sound of something going forth from the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall begin the battle. For then the Lord will go forth, before your face, so that he may strike the army of the Philistines.” New American Bible When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, act decisively, for then the LORD has already gone before you to strike the army of the Philistines. New Revised Standard Version When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then be on the alert; for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd when you hear the sound of marching on the top of the mountain of Bachim, then you shall become strong; for then shall the LORD go out before you to smite the army of the Philistines. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And when you have heard the sound of those walking on the top of the mountain of Bakim, then be strong, because then LORD JEHOVAH has gone out before you to strike the encampment of the Philistines” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is the LORD gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And it shall come to pass when thou hearest the sound of a clashing together from the grove of weeping, then thou shalt go down to them, for then the Lord shall go forth before thee to make havoc in the battle with the Philistines. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Two Victories over the Philistines…23So 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. 24As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 25So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.… Cross References Joshua 6:2-5 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Behold, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, along with its king and its mighty men of valor. / March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. / Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. Then on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. ... 1 Chronicles 14:15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” Judges 4:14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise, for this is the day that the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone before you?” So Barak came down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. Exodus 14:13-14 But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. / The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Isaiah 30:21 And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” 1 Samuel 14:9-10 If they say, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them. / But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.” 2 Kings 7:6 For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” Psalm 18:29 For in You I can charge an army, and with my God I can scale a wall. Isaiah 28:21 For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task. Isaiah 52:12 For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard. Acts 5:19-20 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out, saying, / “Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.” Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Hebrews 1:14 Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Treasury of Scripture And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall bestir yourself: for then shall the LORD go out before you, to smite the host of the Philistines. sound 2 Kings 7:6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. thou shalt bestir Judges 4:14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. Judges 7:15 And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian. 1 Samuel 14:9-12 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them… Jump to Previous Act Army Bestir Camp Forth Hear Hearest Hearing Host Marching Mean Move Mulberries Mulberry Mulberry-Trees Philistines Promptly Quickly Sharply Smite Soon Sound Stepping Strike Thyself Tops TreesJump to Next Act Army Bestir Camp Forth Hear Hearest Hearing Host Marching Mean Move Mulberries Mulberry Mulberry-Trees Philistines Promptly Quickly Sharply Smite Soon Sound Stepping Strike Thyself Tops Trees2 Samuel 5 1. The tribes come to Hebron and anoint David over Israel,4. David's age 6. Taking Zion from the Jebusites, he dwells in it 11. Hiram sends to David, 13. Eleven sons are born to him in Jerusalem 17. David, directed by God, smites the Philistines at Baal-perazim 22. And again at the mulberry trees As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees This phrase indicates a divine signal for action. The "sound of marching" suggests a supernatural event, possibly the movement of angelic hosts. Balsam trees, known for their fragrant resin, were common in the region, and their tops would catch the wind, making a rustling sound. This sound was to be interpreted as a sign from God, emphasizing His direct involvement in the battle. The use of natural elements to convey divine messages is seen elsewhere in Scripture, such as the burning bush in Exodus 3:2. move quickly because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe anointed king of Israel, who seeks God's guidance in battle. 2. The LORD The God of Israel, who provides divine strategy and assurance of victory. 3. Philistines The perennial enemies of Israel, representing opposition to God's people. 4. Balsam Trees The location where David is instructed to listen for the sound of marching, symbolizing divine intervention. 5. Valley of Rephaim The geographical setting of the battle, known for its historical significance in Israel's military campaigns. Teaching Points Divine Guidance in Decision-MakingJust as David sought God's direction, believers should seek divine guidance in their decisions, trusting that God knows the best course of action. The Importance of Obedience David's success was contingent on his obedience to God's specific instructions. Similarly, our victories often depend on our willingness to follow God's commands. God's Sovereignty in Battles The passage reminds us that God is actively involved in the battles we face, both physical and spiritual. We can trust Him to lead us to victory. Listening for God's Voice The sound in the balsam trees symbolizes the need to be attentive to God's voice. In our lives, we must cultivate a sensitivity to His leading. Acting in Faith Once David heard the sound, he acted decisively. Faith requires action; when God gives us a sign or direction, we must move forward confidently.(24) The sound of a going.--After David has gone to the rear of his enemies, he is to wait by "the mulberry trees," or, as now generally understood, baca-shrubs, a plant resembling the balsam. Here a Divine signal was to be given him in "the sound of a going," or, rather, of a march. The word is used of the march of the hosts of the Lord in Judges 5:4; Psalm 68:7. Then David was to "bestir himself," literally, be sharp; he was to act quickly and vigorously.Verse 24. - The sound of a going; Hebrew, a marching. Under the cover of this thicket David was to wait until he heard the sound as of the regular tramp of an army in the tops of the baca trees. It would be in the morning that the wind would shake the treetops, but the sound was to be something more than the soft whispers of a gentle breeze. A gale was to put them into sudden motion, and then the soldiers would know that their Jehovah had gone forth to battle, and David must immediately bestir himself. The enthusiasm of his men must not cool down, but as soon as the wind rustled he must charge the enemy, and his warriors, feeling that they were going with the host of God, would break down all resistance by their impetuous onset. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew As soon asוִ֠יהִי (wî·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be you hear כְּֽשָׁמְעֲךָ֞ (kə·šā·mə·‘ă·ḵā) Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently the sound ק֧וֹל (qō·wl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 6963: A voice, sound of marching צְעָדָ֛ה (ṣə·‘ā·ḏāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6807: A march, an, ankle-chain in the tops בְּרָאשֵׁ֥י (bə·rā·šê) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 7218: The head of the balsam trees, הַבְּכָאִ֖ים (hab·bə·ḵā·’îm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1057: The weeping tree move quickly, תֶּחֱרָ֑ץ (te·ḥĕ·rāṣ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 2782: To point sharply, to wound, to be alert, to decide because כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction this will mean אָ֗ז (’āz) Adverb Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore the LORD יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has marched out יָצָ֤א (yā·ṣā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim before you לְפָנֶ֔יךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā) Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6440: The face to strike לְהַכּ֖וֹת (lə·hak·kō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 5221: To strike the camp בְּמַחֲנֵ֥ה (bə·ma·ḥă·nêh) Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army of the Philistines.” פְלִשְׁתִּֽים׃ (p̄ə·liš·tîm) Noun - proper - masculine plural Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia Links 2 Samuel 5:24 NIV2 Samuel 5:24 NLT 2 Samuel 5:24 ESV 2 Samuel 5:24 NASB 2 Samuel 5:24 KJV 2 Samuel 5:24 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 5:24 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 5:24 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 5:24 French Bible 2 Samuel 5:24 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 5:24 It shall be when you hear (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) |
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