2 Samuel 5:23 nasb — When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in…

NASB

"When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees."

— 2 Samuel 5:23, NASB

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2 Samuel 5:23 in Other Translations

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2 Samuel 5 — Context

20

So David came to Baal-perazim and defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me like the breakthrough of waters." Therefore he named that place Baal-perazim.

21

They abandoned their idols there, so David and his men carried them away.

22

Now the Philistines came up once again and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim.

23

When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam trees.

24

"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."

25

Then David did so, just as the LORD had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.

2 Samuel 5:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 2 Samuel 5:23 say?
2 Samuel 5:23 in the NASB reads: “When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam 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 (NASB): “When David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go directly up; circle around behind them and come at them in front of the balsam 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.
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