2 Samuel
King James Version (KJV)

“And let it be, when thou hearest 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
And let it be when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulbery trees, that then thou shalt bestirre thy selfe: for then shal the Lord goe out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
"It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall act promptly, for then the LORD will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."
- New American Standard Version (1995)
And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is Jehovah gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
- American Standard Version (1901)
Then at the sound of footsteps in the tops of the trees, go forward quickly, for the Lord has gone out before you to overcome the army of the Philistines.
- Basic English Bible
And it shall be, when thou hearest a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then will Jehovah have gone forth before thee, to smite the army of the Philistines.
- Darby Bible
And let it be, when thou hearest 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.
- Webster's Bible
It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall stir yourself up; for then Yahweh has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines."
- World English Bible
and it cometh to pass, in thy hearing the sound of a stepping in the tops of the mulberries, then thou dost move sharply, for then hath Jehovah gone out before thee to smite in the camp of the Philistines.'
- Youngs Literal Bible
And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself; for then is the LORD gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.'
- Jewish Publication Society Bible
5:24 The sound - A noise as it were of persons walking upon the tops of them, which I shall cause; and by this sign, both thou shalt he assured that I am coming to help thee; and the Philistines shall be affrighted, and not perceive the noise of thy army, until thou art upon them. Bestir - Fall upon them.
The whole thing means what?
In this second battle at Rephaim, God told King David to take his soldiers to the back of the enemy's camp with the tactic to surround them after they start the attack. But they were not to start attacking until God gave the signal. The signal was when the birds fly off the Mulberry trees. A flock of birds usually fly up from the tops of trees
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