1 Chronicles — Chapter 14
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1Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
2And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.
3And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.
4Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
5And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,
6And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
7And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.
8And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.
9And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
10And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.
11So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim.
12And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
13And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.
14Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
15And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
16David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.
17And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
1And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
2And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel`s sake.
3And David took more wives at Jerusalem; and David begat more sons and daughters.
4And these are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
5and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet,
6and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
7and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David: and David heard of it, and went out against them.
9Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
10And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thy hand.
11So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and David said, God hath broken mine enemies by my hand, like the breach of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim.
12And they left their gods there; and David gave commandment, and they were burned with fire.
13And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.
14And David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Thou shalt not go up after them: turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.
15And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle; for God is gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
16And David did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.
17And the fame of David went out into all lands; and Jehovah brought the fear of him upon all nations.
1King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him.
2David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
3In Jerusalem David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters.
4These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. When David heard about it, he marched out against them.
9Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.
10David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!”
11So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim.
12The Philistines left their idols there, so David ordered that they be burned.
13The Philistines again raided the valley.
14So David again asked God what he should do. This time God told him, “Don’t march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees.
15When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. For at that moment God is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
16David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.
17So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him.
1Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
2David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel’s sake.
3David took more wives at Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters.
4These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went out against them.
9Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
10David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” Yahweh said to him, “Go up; for I will deliver them into your hand.”
11So they came up to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like waters breaking out. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
12They left their gods there; and David gave a command, and they were burned with fire.
13The Philistines made a another raid in the valley.
14David inquired again of God; and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them. Turn away from them, and come on them opposite the mulberry trees.
15When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”
16David did as God commanded him; and they attacked the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.
17The fame of David went out into all lands; and Yahweh brought the fear of him on all nations.
Summary
Hiram king of Tyre sends materials and craftsmen to build David's palace, confirming God's establishment of David's kingdom. David defeats the Philistines twice at Baal-perazim and the Valley of Rephaim by seeking and obeying God's direction.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Largely parallels 1-2 Samuel geographically. Jerusalem (Zion/City of David) is the theological and political center.
- Key sites: Hebron (David's first capital, 7 years), the threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah (future Temple site, ch.21).
- Chapters 1-9 (genealogies) contain tribal allotments but minimal narrative geography.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes that David's inquiry of God before both battles shows a mature faith that does not presume upon past victories. He notes that God gave different strategies for each battle, teaching that believers cannot rely on yesterday's methods for today's challenges.
- Charles Spurgeon: "Here is a man after God's own heart—not because he was sinless, but because he was God-dependent. David, the mighty warrior, the slayer of Goliath, the veteran of a hundred skirmishes, still asks, 'Shall I go up?' What holy humility! What sacred wisdom! The man who has won a thousand battles still waits upon his God before drawing sword. Would that we had such a spirit! We rush into our conflicts armed with our own experience and past successes, and we wonder why the enemy stands firm. David knew the secret: every battle belongs to the Lord, and every strategy must come fresh from the throne of grace."
Reflection
- 1. Seek God before every decision, not just major ones. David inquired of God before BOTH battles, even after winning the first. Past success does not guarantee future direction. Each new challenge requires fresh communion with God. We must resist the temptation to operate on autopilot based on previous experience.
- 2. Recognize that God's blessings are for the sake of others. David perceived his kingdom was exalted "because of his people Israel" (v. 2). Every gift, talent, position, and blessing God gives us is intended to serve others. When we understand this, it transforms how we steward what God has entrusted to us.
- 3. Be willing to receive different strategies for similar situations. God told David to attack directly the first time (v. 10) but to circle around and wait for a sign the second time (vv. 14-15). God is not predictable in His methods, only in His character. We must remain flexible and attentive to His leading rather than defaulting to formulas.
- 4. Give God the glory for every victory. David immediately declared "God hath broken in upon mine enemies" (v. 11). He named the place after God's action, not his own military skill. In our victories— professional, relational, spiritual—we must cultivate the habit of immediate attribution to God's grace and power.
- 5. Wait for God's timing, even when you have His direction. David had to wait for the sound in the treetops before engaging (v. 15). Having a promise or command from God does not mean we should act immediately or impatiently. There is a divine timing to every divine directive, and premature action can be as disobedient as inaction.