2 Samuel 5:23 bbe — And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle…

Bible in Basic English

"And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees."

— 2 Samuel 5:23, Bible in Basic English

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

2 Samuel 5 — Context

20

And David went to Baal-perazim, and overcame them there; and he said, The Lord has let the forces fighting against me be broken before me as a wall is broken by rushing waters. So that place was named Baal-perazim.

21

And the Philistines, when they went in flight, did not take their images with them, and David and his men took them away.

22

And the Philistines came up again, and went in every direction in the valley of Rephaim.

23

And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.

24

Then at the sound of footsteps in the tops of the trees, go forward quickly, for the Lord has gone out before you to overcome the army of the Philistines.

25

And David did as the Lord had said; and he overcame the Philistines, attacking them from Gibeon to near Gezer.

2 Samuel 5:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 5:23 say?
2 Samuel 5:23 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.”
Where is 2 Samuel 5:23 in the Bible?
2 Samuel 5:23 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 2 Samuel, chapter 5, verse 23.
Who wrote 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Nathan and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 2 Samuel about?
2 Samuel records David's reign — his rise to the throne, the conquest of Jerusalem, the eternal covenant God makes with his house, and the moral failure with Bathsheba that fractures his family. From the highs of triumph to the depths of repentance, David remains the messianic prototype.
What are the major themes of 2 Samuel?
2 Samuel explores themes including Davidic Covenant, Sin & Repentance, Kingdom, Mercy, Consequences. These themes shape the meaning and context of 2 Samuel 5:23.
What translation should I read 2 Samuel 5:23 in?
2 Samuel 5:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 2 Samuel 5:23?
2 Samuel 5:23 reads (BBE): “And when David went for directions to the Lord, he said, You are not to go up against them in front; but make a circle round them from the back and come on them opposite the spice-trees.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2