{"id":44360,"date":"2024-09-13T09:49:53","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T06:49:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44360"},"modified":"2025-05-06T13:09:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T10:09:54","slug":"did-david-hate-the-lame-and-the-blind2-samuel-56-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2024\/09\/13\/did-david-hate-the-lame-and-the-blind2-samuel-56-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Did David Hate the Lame and the Blind?(2 Samuel 5:6\u20139)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Question:<\/strong>
Did David truly hate the lame and the blind, as it appears in 2 Samuel 5:6\u20139? What is the proper theological understanding of this passage?<\/p>\n

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Passage (2 Samuel 5:6\u20139, ESV):<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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6<\/strong> And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, \u201cYou will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off\u201d\u2014thinking, \u201cDavid cannot come in here.\u201d
7<\/strong> Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
8<\/strong> And David said on that day, \u201cWhoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack \u2018the lame and the blind,\u2019 who are hated by David\u2019s soul.\u201d Therefore it is said, \u201cThe blind and the lame shall not come into the house.\u201d
9<\/strong> And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. And David built the city all around from the Millo inward.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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The Context and Meaning<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This event occurred during David\u2019s conquest of Jerusalem. The city, occupied by the Jebusites, had never been captured by the Israelites, and the Jebusites were confident in their defenses. They taunted David by saying even the \u201cblind and lame\u201d<\/strong> could defend the city against him (v.6). This was mockery<\/strong>, not a literal military strategy. The Jebusites were mocking David’s strength and possibly recalling his humble past as a shepherd.<\/p>\n

When David conquered the fortress of Zion (later called the City of David<\/strong>), he responded to their insult by calling the Jebusites “the blind and the lame”<\/strong>\u2014a sarcastic reference to their earlier taunt. The phrase “whom David\u2019s soul hates” (v.8) is not a general statement of hatred toward disabled people<\/strong>, but rather a figurative expression tied to the mocking context.<\/p>\n

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Theological Clarification<\/strong><\/h3>\n

To conclude that David hated the disabled would contradict his later actions and the spirit of God\u2019s law. Scripture reveals David as a man of compassion and justice<\/strong>, especially toward the weak and marginalized:<\/p>\n

In 2 Samuel 9:1\u201313<\/strong>, David shows great kindness to Mephibosheth<\/strong>, the crippled son of Jonathan. He restores Saul\u2019s land to him and has him eat at the king\u2019s table \u201clike one of the king\u2019s sons\u201d<\/strong> (v.11, NIV).<\/p>\n

The Torah commands care for the disabled:<\/p>\n

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\u201cDo not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord.\u201d<\/em> (Leviticus 19:14, NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Therefore, 2 Samuel 5:8 must be interpreted in context<\/strong>\u2014David is not issuing a divine law or expressing true hatred, but repeating the enemy’s sarcasm<\/strong> and turning their mockery back on them after victory.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Blind and the Lame Shall Not Enter the House\u201d \u2013 Misunderstood Saying<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The phrase<\/p>\n

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in verse 8, \u201cThe blind and the lame shall not come into the house,\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

became a proverb, but it wasn\u2019t a legal or religious command. It arose from the sarcastic context of David\u2019s conquest. Some ancient interpreters or later generations may have misapplied it, just as the disciples misunderstood Jesus\u2019 words about John in:<\/p>\n

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\u201cIf it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?\u201d<\/em> (John 21:22, ESV).
\u201cBecause of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die…\u201d<\/em> (John 21:23, NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

People sometimes take symbolic or figurative statements literally just as many misunderstood David\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n

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What Can We Learn from This?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Theologically, this account highlights a few key truths:<\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    God uses the underestimated<\/strong> \u2013 David, newly crowned and mocked as weak, prevails because God is with him (1 Samuel 17:45\u201347).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    Spiritual opposition often begins with mockery and discouragement<\/strong> \u2013 just like the enemies who ridiculed Nehemiah (Nehemiah 4:1\u20133) before the wall was rebuilt.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    Victory often follows ridicule<\/strong> \u2013 the enemy uses discouragement as a last line of defense before defeat.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As believers, we must not let mockery, rejection, or misjudgment<\/strong> cause us to doubt our calling or mission. Instead, like David, we must remember that our strength comes from God.<\/p>\n

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    \u201cWith God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.\u201d<\/em> (Psalm 60:12, NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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    Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    David\u2019s statement in 2 Samuel 5:6\u20139 is not a condemnation of the physically disabled<\/strong>, but a response to a mocking insult from the Jebusites. His later kindness to Mephibosheth confirms this. As Christians, we are called to interpret Scripture carefully, recognizing context, metaphor, and the consistent character of God\u2019s mercy and justice.<\/p>\n

    May the Lord bless you as you seek to understand His Word more deeply.<\/strong>
    Feel free to share this truth with others to bring clarity and encouragement.<\/p>\n

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