And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

2 SAMUEL 5:23KJV
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2 Samuel 5:23 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 5:23 mean?

2 Samuel 5:23 describes how, when David asked God for guidance before a battle, God told him not to attack the enemy head-on but instead to circle around and approach them from behind, near the mulberry trees. This shows David seeking God’s direction and God giving him a specific, strategic plan.

In this scene, King David is preparing to face the Philistines, and he pauses to ask the LORD (the personal name for God in Hebrew) what to do. Instead of repeating the same tactics as before, God instructs David to change his approach. The detail about the mulberry trees gives a concrete landmark, showing God’s guidance is both practical and precise.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 5:23

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name for God, emphasizing a direct relationship and communication between David and God in this moment.
  • compass (סָבַב, savav): This word means to go around or circle. God is telling David not to attack from the front but to maneuver around the enemy, highlighting a strategy that avoids a straightforward confrontation.
  • behind (אַחַר, achar): This word means "from the rear" or "behind." The instruction is to approach the Philistines from an unexpected direction, which would catch them off guard.

Why 2 Samuel 5:23 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that God always works in the same way; instead, it shows that God can give new instructions for each situation.
  • The emphasis on David enquiring of the LORD highlights the importance of seeking guidance rather than relying on past successes or personal experience alone.
  • The detail about the mulberry trees and the specific strategy connects to the wider passage by showing that victory comes from following God’s direction, not just military strength.

Where else these words appear

“trees” Hebrew H1057 · used in 5 verses

  • 2 Samuel 5:24 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.
  • 1 Chronicles 14:14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
  • 1 Chronicles 14:15 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

“against” Hebrew H4136 · used in 34 verses

  • Exodus 18:19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
  • Numbers 8:3 And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • Joshua 19:46 And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.

“compass” Hebrew H5437 · used in 147 verses

  • Genesis 2:11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
  • 2 Samuel 20:12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
  • Psalms 48:12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.