2nd Samuel 5: 23 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.
2nd Samuel 5:24 And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines….. 2nd Samuel 5:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
2nd Samuel 8:1 And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines. 2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so, the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
2ndSamuel 8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates…. So, how is it that after all of these victories that God gave to David, that David now wants to number the people, to give the impression that Israel’s strength was in numbers. God is a Spirit, and therefore, even though in the next passage, no definite reasons are given, we must understand that there has to be an issue with the hearts and minds of the people.
2ndSamuel 8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!