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2 Samuel 5:23

David
Guidance and decisionsGod's will and callingPrayer

21 There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away.

22 Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

25 So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

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BSB
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.
KJV
And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
WEB
When David inquired of the LORD, he said, “You shall not go up. Circle around behind them, and attack them in front of the mulberry trees.
ASV
And when David inquired of Jehovah, he said, Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.
DARBY
And David inquired of Jehovah; and he said, Thou shalt not go up; turn round behind them and come upon them opposite the mulberry-trees.
BLB
And David inquired of YHWH, and He said, “You shall not go up. Circle around unto behind them and come upon them in front of the balsam trees.
ÅB
Og David spurte Herren, men han sa: Du skal ikke dra dit opp; gå omkring så du kommer bakenfor dem, og gå så på dem midt for baka-trærne,
OTB
Så spurte David Herren, og Han sa, "Du skal ikke gå direkte opp; sirkle rundt bak dem og kom mot dem foran balsamtrærne.
B1930
Og David spurte Herren, men han sa: Du skal ikke dra dit op; gå omkring så du kommer bakenfor dem, og gå så på dem midt for baka-trærne,

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Original text and word study

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