I know I make bold statements on occasion, and I try to be intentional about them. But I recently read a bold assertion that made me stop and think about how intentional the author really was in making the statement.
In her very interesting chapter on Leviticus 21, Dr. Johanna Dorman drops in this assertion:
“Although David feels a deep hatred for blind and deaf persons . . . (2 Sam 5:8)” (Dorman, p. 26).
I remembered the Biblical reference, but I did not recall concluding that David felt hatred towards people with these disabilities. So I looked it up again:
And the king (David) and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.” Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 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.” 2 Samuel 5:6-8
Frankly, I don’t see the hatred. David is being taunted – “even our weakest members could keep you out!” David responds in kind to the taunt.
It looks remarkably like school-yard behavior from my childhood – “You throw like a girl!” “Oh, yeah, well, you ARE a girl!” Thankfully, nobody died on the schoolyard. But passions would rise at such words.
Both my ESV Study Bible and the MacArthur Study Bible agree that this was probably a taunt:
“The Jebusites probably meant that the fortifications were so strong that the city needed no able-bodied defenders. David quotes their words in ordering the attack, referring to the Jebusites as “the blind and the lame.” ESV Study Bible, p. 549.
“The Jebusites taunted the Israelites and mocked the power of David by boasting that the blind and the lame could defend Jerusalem against him.” MacArthur Study Bible, p. 426.
Probably the greatest argument that it was only a taunt and not really about people with disabilities at all comes from the second half of Dr. Dorman’s sentence:
Although David feels a deep hatred for blind and deaf persons (2 Sam 5:8), he returns to Mephibosheth all the land of Saul, and invites him to eat regularly at his table (2 Sam 9:10-13).
Mephibosheth was lame, and ate at the King’s table. Of course, David is honoring the promise he made to his dearest friend, Jonathan, but that did not need to include the invitation to eat at David’s table. If he really felt hatred or revulsion, he could have made sure Mephibosheth’s needs were taken care of, but out of his sight. Eating at the king’s table is a very intimate, personal affirmation of Mephibosheth’s standing before King David.
So, I think Dr. Dorman simply wasn’t careful, both because the Biblical reference doesn’t include people who are deaf at all, and because the reference isn’t really about hatred towards people with disabilities.
But statements like that start to bleed into the general assumptions about what a passage means or about the character of the person making the statement (in this case, David). I can almost guarantee I will see that assertion about David again somewhere else. Only that person might not be as careful as Dr. Dorman in providing the Biblical reference, further disconnecting the assertion from the source.
Mostly I take this as a personal warning that I should be careful in how I read (and write about) any Biblical passage. The Bible is worth being careful about!
The Works of God 
You said, “I can almost guarantee I will see that assertion about David again somewhere else”, well, unfortunately it seems as if I saw it somewhere else before you did (or at least before you were able to write about it.)
The NIV Application Commentary for the book of Mark by David E. Garland includes a very similar reference;
“This crowd must think that so august a figure as Jesus would not want to bother with a helpless, blind mendicant (see David’s well-known distaste for the blind, 2 Sam.5:6-8). Mark however, gives this beggar dignity by giving his name, Bartimeaus.”
pg 419
I read it and paused, looked up the reference, and saw that this is very sloppy writing. The parenthetical statement doesn’t contribute anything to what the author is trying to say, and I wonder why it was included at all.
You are right, the Bible is worth being careful about!
Thanks for this blog, it’s always encouraging to me.
Tanx 4 d insight into dis gospel. May u increase the more in wisdom and understanding.
St Ephrem the Syrian actually understood David as sparing, having mercy, on the blind and the lame. See his commentary on the healing of the blind man (Luke 18):
Come! Receive the Light – As Jesus approached the blind man the blind man cried out and said, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The beggar’s hand was stretched out to receive a penny from man but found himself receiving the gift of God. “Son of David, have mercy on me!” He understood that Jesus was the Son of David, the David who had spared the blind and the lame of the Jebusites (2 Sam 5:6-8). How did Jesus answer him? He said, “Receive your sight; you faith has made you well.” The blind man’s faith first gave him life and then gave him bodily sight. (St. Ephrem the Syrian)
Amen!! I was just reading this passage, and I was stumped!! I’m so thankful I found this! Gives me much clarity!! God bless you!
At first, upon reading 2nd Samuel 5:8 in our New American Standard Bible, I was concerned with what had been written. I could not imagine our Lord placing someone with prejudice toward the infirmed, as a leader over his chosen people. After a prayer for understanding, it came to me that it simply must have been a return by David against the Jebusites’ taunt. I was happy to see, after an Internet search, your response confirming my belief.
Please remove this from your site. Those that teach should be few because you will be judged more strictly. The lame and the blind David was talking about was his enemies idols-see Psalms 115
Thank you
Did David even write Psalm 115? Be careful in your writing.
Thank you.
I’ve understood it that there was to be no intermarriage between isreal and the jebusites. Isreal labeled THEM (the jebusites) as “(spiritually if you will) blind and lame, and the jebusites tauntingly accepted this name, saying sure we’re blind and lame and you can’t even beat us.
Secondly, I’ve heard that it should be translated that the jebusites/blind and lame hate david and not the other way around as we have it. Anyways, David wins the battle. My two cents
May God bless you richly! The Bible is certainly worth being careful about!! Thank you!!
I disagree i feel the lame and the blind are unbelievers. Who go against the man of God and today ate thoses who still go against God. The lame and blind means thoses who don’t see nor believe. Thoses will not enter in to the palace of heaven! We must look deeper in to the word of God for there is riches in it.
I read also on biblehub that it’s possible that this is a reference to false idols, something which David hated. I see also that it could represent a taunt.
Very well put. I read this passage last week and pondered on it a good bit. When I read it I knew it wasn’t David’s character, so I looked at my Commentary to understand it more. It didn’t say much. I thought the Jebusites were most likely taunting him as you said.
I googled the topic and found your post – it helped. Expressions aren’t heard in scripture so it can be easy to read it wrong!
The Geneva’s Bible’s notes give a logical interpretation of the 2 Samuel 5:8.
The following text(verses 6 through 8 of 2 Samuel chapter 5)is from the 1587 Geneva Bible:
6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except though take away the(The children of God called idols blind and lame guides: therefore the Jebusites meant that they should prove that their gods were neither blind nor lame.)blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.
7 But David took the fort of Zion: this is the city of David.
8 And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, [that are] hated of David’s soul, [he shall be chief and captain]. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not(The idols should no longer enter into that place.)come into the house.
The notes from the Geneva Bible are in parentheses. I modernized some of the spelling for greater clarity.
Here is Habakkuk 2:18 from the KJV:
18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
I quoted that last verse from Habakkuk to illustrate what the ancient Hebrews thought about idols.
They were sarcastically calling David blind and lame in a way to say that he didn’t understand the place nor its inhabitants (Not the Jebusites but the HOST who resided there). The Jebusites occupied that land where the HOST resided and incorrectly thought that they knew more or had more right to and understanding of that place than David did ( I don’t believe they understood the GOD Choose DAVID). What they failed to understand was that David was the Lord of the Host. And that the Lord God of Hosts who is GOD sent them – they are his hand/arm to David – The host were Davids servants not the Jebusites. The Builders of the City of David. When the Hosts are given to the Lord of the New Covenant (the great great great……..grandchild/granddaughter of King David) then that one too will become Lord of the HOST. The HOST will fight for them to make them KING as they did for David. He/She by Gods Hand/Arm/Army (Same army who came to Jacob) shall say unto TRUMP/Pharoh “Let my People he you have oppress for the last 400 years thru Slavery/Jim Crow/Institutionalized Racism GO and when he says no – God will fight against them and prevail. Host host will build the new City and it’s name will be….. it is in the Word – anyone knows?
Interesting take. But the hate continues at 5:8.
Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by the way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind who are hated by Davids soul,) he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say the blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”
I wonder why he hates them from his SOUL!!!…
I believe this is also a messianic passage. Jesus only performed two miracles in Jerusalem (The city of David). Those two miracles were healing a blind man and a lame man.
Thank you for the clarification. I would say you are right and the other interpretations are not.
I read in scholarly work that the lame and blind were all slain as an intimidation tactic to the jebusite kingdom in order to prove their ruthlessness.
Which makes sense…since David’s army was doing the marching on the jebusites. Back then it was all about murder and aquisition of resources. The lame and blind could not be used for subjugation to work in the fields anyway.
I am glad reading it.
I am reading Samuel’s books and I was wandering about this passage and go on reading I found the Mefibosete invitation by the King David and returned to jebuseus provocations and had the same conclusion.
The God’s word is tremendous!
David is a man after Gods own heart. This is not a characteristic of Gods nature or heart. It is definitely in defense of the taunt that was made.
I hear your points, and I think they are pretty strong, but I think you may have missed the big picture of the story. The Bible may seem to have some random and even shocking statements like the blind and lame are “hated by David’s soul” but everything has a purpose. I would argue that in order to really find what is being said, you have to take the puzzling statements as puzzle pieces rather than the puzzle itself. In other words, look at the grand story being told. Not only in the story of David, but also the gospel. Knowing the master storyteller that God is, I would not be even slightly shocked if this passage was a direct set up for the story of Mephibosheth. The lame and blind were explained to be ‘hated by David’s soul’. Very powerful language. Additionally, the lame and blind were not allowed into the house. Now when Mephibosheth comes into the story, the Bible makes it almost shockingly clear that this descendant of Jonathan is lame. It is literally repeated over and over again. However, because of the powerful bond of love and the covenant made between David and Jonathan, Mephibosheth is shown exceedingly great kindness and is even brought in to eat with the king! I actually think this is a very clear and intentional analogy to the incredible story of the gospel. I am not saying that lame people and blind people are the embodiment of sin and we should hate them. However, these defects as well as all forms of pain and handicap will not exist in heaven when our bodies are restored for they are the result of a sinful world. That being said. God HATES our sinful nature and will not have it in HIS house. However, because of the bond of His son Jesus Christ. Because those who believe in and put on His name are co-heirs with Christ. God does not see our defects anymore, but Christ’s righteousness. He sees the bond He has with His Son! So we are invited into His house to sit and eat with HIM!! I believe that it is a beautiful picture of the gospel. One of thousands of little pictures throughout Scripture. It points to the gospel, so I believe it is more grounded than a commentary to excuse David’s character. Even if I am wrong however, you have to admit that it is not an unfounded, uncommon, or an out of context claim. The only reason I say this is because I think we should really think twice about knocking one another. I don’t know Dr. Johanna Dorman but is it possible she could have actually been correct? I hope only to present this encouragement: in our efforts to study Scripture and grow more in our knowledge of our God, let us encourage and strengthen each other. We all have so much to learn, grow, and benefit from one another; after all, that is the nature of a body!
Keep Kick’n it for Jesus brother!
Excellent points! May this longer exposition be a blessing to you and anyone else who stumbles upon it: https://bereansearching.com/2017/01/17/mephibosheth-and-a-covenant-of-grace/
He is the true King of kings that can cast out of Jerusalem the blind….. by healing it, and the lame……. by healing it, that can rightly claim the order of Melchizedec in Jerusalem or Salem as it was once called. He is the King and was crowned with thorns and was enthroned on a cross. He was a lamb with out blemish neither blind nor lame. …..The Jebusites, the descendants of Ham the sinner, had greater foreshadowing than the descendants of Shem. ….maybe Black lives matter?
Christ is, was and always will be the only King of Jerusalem, and only one’s Discernment (not blindness) and Understanding (legs that stand under us that are not lame) unveils this spiritual reality…… except thou take away the blind and the lame thou shalt not enter Jerusalem…..King James version…………it is about healing not conquering
It is so interesting that I would spend the last 45 minutes researching this verse because it turned up in my reading today. Could this be the “ found theology” Ben quash talks about in his book of the same name. So exciting!
Ya hi. Sorry but the scripture states that his soul hates them. That’s a pretty deep hate. So his hatred for the disabled is backed up in other scriptures in the Bible aswell. The next question is why did he hate them. Well you see in the old testament blindness and disability was for the most part brought upon those who transgressed against God . So David loved God with all his heart……so would it be right to assume he would hate those who transgressed against his heavenly father. It may not seem to be right at all to hate any of God’s children today but back then it was different times and David was a man of war.
Satisfied