2 Samuel 5:23
Good News Translation
Once more David consulted the LORD, who answered, "Don't attack them from here, but go around and get ready to attack them from the other side, near the balsam trees.

New Revised Standard Version
When David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come upon them opposite the balsam trees.

Contemporary English Version
David asked the LORD what he should do, and the LORD answered: Don't attack them from the front. Circle around behind and attack from among the balsam trees.

New American Bible
and again David inquired of the LORD, who replied: Do not attack the front—circle behind them and come against them near the balsam trees.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go not up against them but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go not up against them but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees.

enquired

2 Samuel 5:19 And David consulted the Lord, Saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

fetch

Joshua 8:2,7 And thou shalt do to the city of Hai, and to the king thereof, as thou hast done to Jericho, and to the king thereof: but the spoils, and all the cattle, you shall take for a prey to yourselves: lay an ambush for the city behind it. . . .

1 Chronicles 14:14 And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the pear trees.

Matthew 9:29,30 Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it done unto you. . . .

Matthew 8:23-25 And when he entered into the boat, his disciples followed him: . . .

John 9:6,7 When he had said these things, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and spread the clay upon his eyes, . . .

the mulberry trees.

1 Chronicles 14:14,15 And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the pear trees. . . .

; and so the Vulgate in both places has {pyrorum}. The Rabbins, however, believe {bacha} signifies the {mulberry-tree}; with whom Ursinus agrees. It more probably denotes a large shrub which the Arabs still call {baca}, from its {distilling} an odoriferous gum, from {bachah} to {distil}, as tears. Of this opinion is Celsius, who quotes a passage from {Abulfadi}, who describes it as a balsam shrub, having long leaves, and bearing a large fruit with an acrid taste. M. Forskal mentions a tree by the name of {baeca}, with leaves rather ovated??, smooth, entire: its berries are poisonous to the sheep.

Context
Two Victories over the Philistines
22And the Philistines came up again and spread themselves into the valley of Raphaim. 23And David consulted the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hands? He answered: Go not up against them but fetch a compass behind them, and thou shalt come upon them over against the pear trees.24And 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.…
Cross References
1 Samuel 22:15
Did I begin to day to consult the Lord for him? far be this from me: let not the king suspect such a thing against his servant, or any one in all my father's house: for thy servant knew nothing of this matter, either little or great.

1 Samuel 23:2
Therefore David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the Lord said to David: Go, and thou shalt smite the Philistines, and shalt save Ceila.

2 Samuel 5:19
And David consulted the Lord, Saying: Shall I go up to the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to David: Go up, for I will surely deliver the Philistines into thy hand.

1 Chronicles 14:14
And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the pear trees.

2 Samuel 5:22
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