David's raw anger here isn't just about military strategy; he singles out the Jebusites' taunt of "the lame and the blind" as something deeply offensive to his very being. This profound disgust explains why he declares that such people—those who mock and oppose God's chosen king—would never be allowed into his kingdom's sacred spaces.
And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Having just been made king over all Israel, David immediately launches an assault on Jerusalem, the stronghold of the Jebusites. This verse captures David's fierce determination to conquer this last obstacle to his united kingdom, rallying his troops with a taunt against the Jebusites' perceived weakness. The subsequent saying highlights David's utter rejection of them, setting the stage for his establishment of Jerusalem as his capital.
How did David conquer Jerusalem when everyone else thought it was impossible? It involved a daring, almost unbelievable tactic that shocked the Jebusites.
Jerusalem, the city David would make his capital, was famously well-defended. The Jebusites taunted David, believing their fortifications were impenetrable, even mocking the blind and the lame as guards.
The Water Shaft Gambit
David, however, knew a secret. He saw the vulnerability: the 'water shaft' (likely a tunnel or conduit). His strategy was to ascend through this hidden passage. This wasn't a frontal assault; it was a stealth mission, a surprise from below.
Divine Insight or Boldness?
While the text doesn't explicitly state God revealed this, David's success implies divine favor or at least a profound understanding of the enemy's weakness. It was a display of audacious faith and strategic brilliance, taking the enemy completely off guard.
David's words about the Jebusites are harsh. Why such intense hatred for a group he's just conquered?
David's declaration, 'the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul,' reveals a profound, personal animosity. This wasn't just military strategy; it was deeply emotional.
The Symbolic Meaning
The 'lame and the blind' were not just literal guards but represented the inherent weakness and perhaps the defiant arrogance of the Jebusites. They had used their supposed inability (lameness, blindness) as a boast of security, saying even these couldn't defend the city against them. David turned their mockery into his target.
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A King's Vow
His subsequent vow, 'The blind and the lame shall not come into the house,' solidifies this. It’s a decree that Jerusalem, now cleansed and consecrated as the City of David and the future site of God's temple, would be free from those who symbolized the city's former defiance and perceived impurity. It speaks to David's desire for a pure and righteous kingdom.
Understand the original words
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
A term that can denote the personal existence of an individual, their life, or their deepest inner desires, emotions, and passions. It is the seat of man's moral and spiritual life.
David's conquest of Jerusalem wasn't just a military victory; it was a profound statement of God's favor and a new era for Israel. His harsh words against the Jebusites reveal his zealous commitment to purity in leadership and worship, setting a standard that would shape the spiritual life of the nation.
c. 1010 BC
David Becomes King of Israel
After the death of King Saul, David is anointed king over Judah and eventually over all Israel, uniting the tribes.
c. 1005 BC— this verse
David Captures Jerusalem
David leads his forces to attack the heavily fortified Jebusite city of Jerusalem, which had resisted Israelite rule.
c. 1005 BC
David Establishes Jerusalem as Capital
Following its capture, David makes Jerusalem his royal capital, a strategic move that unifies the north and south.
c. 1004 BC
Philistine Attacks on Jerusalem
The Philistines launch invasions to reclaim the strategic city, but David defeats them in the Valley of Rephaim.
c. 970 BC
David's Long Reign Continues
David reigns for 40 years, consolidating his kingdom, expanding its borders, and establishing a strong monarchy.
This passage shows David's reliance on God's power to overcome his enemies, mirroring how he later claims victory over the Jebusites not by his own strength but by God's aid.
2 Samuel 5:17-25This section further details David's military successes, reinforcing the theme of God granting victory and elevating David to kingship over all Israel.
Psalm 18:31-34David himself reflects on God's protective power in this psalm, describing God as his strength and deliverer, which echoes his trust in God when confronting the Jebusites.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29This New Testament passage speaks to God choosing the weak and humble to shame the strong, paralleling David's success against the seemingly invincible Jebusites and their taunts.
David's raw anger here isn't just about military strategy; he singles out the Jebusites' taunt of "the lame and the blind" as something deeply offensive to his very being. This profound disgust explains why he declares that such people—those who mock and oppose God's chosen king—would never be allowed into his kingdom's sacred spaces.
Having just been made king over all Israel, David immediately launches an assault on Jerusalem, the stronghold of the Jebusites. This verse captures David's fierce determination to conquer this last obstacle to his united kingdom, rallying his troops with a taunt against the Jebusites' perceived weakness. The subsequent saying highlights David's utter rejection of them, setting the stage for his establishment of Jerusalem as his capital.
Having just been made king over all Israel, David immediately launches an assault on Jerusalem, the stronghold of the Jebusites. This verse captures David's fierce determination to conquer this last obstacle to his united kingdom, rallying his troops with a taunt against the Jebusites' perceived weakness. The subsequent saying highlights David's utter rejection of them, setting the stage for his establishment of Jerusalem as his capital.
"And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house…" — David's raw anger here isn't just about military strategy; he singles out the Jebusites' taunt of "the lame and the blind" as something deeply offensive to his very being. This profound disgust expla…
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Last reviewed October 2026
