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The city of the Jebusites must become truly Jerusalem - "the inheritance," "the
abode" "of peace:" the peace of the house of David. The town itself had indeed
already been taken immediately upon Joshua's death (Judges 1:8). But "the
stronghold" on Mount Zion, which dominated the city, still continued to be held by
"the Jebusites." Yet Jerusalem was almost marked out by nature to be Israel's capital,
from its strength, its central position, and its situation between Benjamin and Judah.
Far more than this, it was the place of which the Lord had made choice: to be, as it
were, a guarded sanctuary within the holy land. So long as Zion was in possession of
the Jebusites, as the original Canaanite "inhabitants of the land," the land itself could
not be said to have been wholly won. Thither accordingly David now directed the
united forces of his people. Yet such was the natural and artificial strength of Zion
that "to say (express), David shall not come hither" (ver. 5), the Jebusites taunted
him with what afterwards became a proverb, perpetuating among the people the fact
that no conquest is too difficult for God and with God: "He will not come in hither,
for even the blind and the lame shall drive thee away!"^260 It was wise and right in
David to take up this defiant taunt of the heathen, when he gave his men charge -
perhaps directing them to scale the bare rock by the water-course,^261 which may at
that time have come down the brow of Zion: "Whoever smiteth Jebusites - let him
throw (them) down the water-course: both 'the blind and the lame' who are hated of
David's soul!"^262
At the same time no means were neglected of encouraging the leaders in the attack.
As we learn from the Book of Chronicles (1 Chronicles 11:6), the leader who first
scaled the walls was to be made general-in-chief. This honor was won by Joab, who
had commanded David's separate army, before his elevation to the throne had united
the whole host of Israel. And so, in face of the Jebusite boast, the impregnable fort
was taken, and called "the City of David," - a lesson this full of encouragement to
the people of God at all times. Henceforth David made it his residence. To render it
more secure, "he built," or rather fortified, "round about from (fort) Millo and
inwards,"^263 or, as in 1 Chronicles 11:8: "From the surrounding (wall) and to the
surrounding," - that is, as we understand it: Zion, which had hitherto been
surrounded by three walls, had now a fourth added on the north, reaching from
Castle Millo (either at the north-eastern or at the north-western angle) to where the
other wall ended. Similarly, Joab repaired the rest of the city walls (1 Chronicles
11:8).
What we have just related must, of course, not be taken as indicating a strict
chronological succession of events. The building of these walls no doubt occupied
some time, and many things occurred in the interval, which are related afterwards.
Apparently the intention of the sacred historian was to complete his sketch of all
connected with David's conquest of Zion and his making it the royal residence, not
(^)