The Meaning of 2 Samuel 5:24 Explained

2 Samuel 5:24

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.'

Darby: And it shall be, when thou hearest a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then will Jehovah have gone forth before thee, to smite the army of the Philistines.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Samuel 5:24 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 5:13-25 - Jehovah's Victories Over The Philistines
David's prosperity led to luxurious living and sensual indulgence, out of which sprang the troubles of his after-life, 2 Samuel 5:13; 2 Samuel 5:15.
The Philistines watched the acquisition of Jerusalem with profound anxiety. It was against their policy for David to be the head of a united nation. It would seem that their first onset drove him back to the cave of Adullam, 2 Samuel 5:17. This was a startling reversal of fortune, but it was salutary that, now as ever, David should learn how dependent he was on God, and that God, who had given him so much, might at any time withdraw his gifts. Loneliness, failure, solitude are necessary for us all! Twice David sought direction as to the ordering of the fight. On the first occasion, the command was, Go up; on the second, Thou shalt not go up. In the first battle the Philistine position was carried by assault; in the second it was turned by ambush. The movement in the trees suggests the footfalls of angel-squadrons. Oh, for the quick ear to detect the goings-forth of God's help, and grace to bestir ourselves to follow! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 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

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 5:24 mean?

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 will go out Yahweh before you to strike the camp of the Philistines
וִ֠יהִי [בשמעך] (כְּֽשָׁמְעֲךָ֞) אֶת־ ק֧וֹל צְעָדָ֛ה בְּרָאשֵׁ֥י הַבְּכָאִ֖ים אָ֣ז תֶּחֱרָ֑ץ כִּ֣י אָ֗ז יָצָ֤א יְהוָה֙ לְפָנֶ֔יךָ לְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּמַחֲנֵ֥ה פְלִשְׁתִּֽים

וִ֠יהִי  And  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
[בשמעך]  - 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
(כְּֽשָׁמְעֲךָ֞)  when  you  hear 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
ק֧וֹל  the  sound 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
צְעָדָ֛ה  of  marching 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צְעָדָה 
Sense: marching.
בְּרָאשֵׁ֥י  in  the  tops 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
הַבְּכָאִ֖ים  of  the  mulberry  trees 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בָּכָא  
Sense: balsam tree—a shrub which drips sap when it is cut.
תֶּחֱרָ֑ץ  you  shall  advance  quickly 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: חָרוּץ 
Sense: to cut, sharpen, decide, decree, determine, maim, move, be decisive, be mutilated.
יָצָ֤א  will  go  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ  before  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לְהַכּ֖וֹת  to  strike 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָכָה  
Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
בְּמַחֲנֵ֥ה  the  camp 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: מַחֲנֶה  
Sense: encampment, camp.
פְלִשְׁתִּֽים  of  the  Philistines 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.