The Fame of David – 1 Chronicles 14:1-17
v1 Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent officials to David. He sent cedar wood. And he sent workers who were skilled in the use of stone and wood. They came to build a palace for David. v2 David knew that the LORD had established him as king of Israel. The LORD had made David’s kingdom great for the benefit of his (the LORD’s) people Israel.
v3 In Jerusalem, David married more wives. And he became the father of more sons and daughters. v4-7 These are the names of David’s children who were born there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
v8 The Philistines heard that David had become the king of all Israel. They all came to search for him in order to attack him. But David heard about it and he went out to fight them. v9 The Philistines had come and they had attacked the valley called Rephaim. v10 David asked God, ‘Should I attack the Philistines? Would you hand them over to me?’ The LORD answered him, ‘Yes, attack. I will hand them over to you.’
v11 So David and his men went to Baal Perazim town. There they defeated the Philistines. David said, ‘God has used me to defeat my enemies. He burst out upon them like a flood of water.’ So, that place was called Baal Perazim. v12 The Philistines left the images of their false gods there. David ordered his men to burn them.
v13 Once again, the Philistines attacked the people in the valley. v14 David prayed to God again. This time, God said, ‘Do not go to attack them. But go round and come to them near the balsam trees. v15 Wait there until you hear a sound in the tops of the trees. It will be like the sound when soldiers march. Then attack because I will march ahead of you. I will defeat the Philistine army.’ v16 David did what God told him to do. He and his men attacked and defeated the Philistine army. They continued to attack the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
v17 So, David became famous in all the countries. And the LORD made all the nations afraid of him.
COMMENTARY
VERSES 1-2
Many Bible teachers think that Hiram only became king of Tyre late in the rule of David in Israel. For most of the rule of David, Hiram’s father Abibaal was king of Tyre. This event was at the time that David became king of all Israel (2 Samuel 5:11-12). So, this was before Hiram became king of Tyre. But Hiram of Tyre helped David to build a palace at that time. As king of Tyre, he later helped Solomon with the temple (2 Chronicles chapter 2).
David knew that the LORD had made him king to help his people Israel. The LORD had given David royal honor and authority, but David was king for the people's benefit.
VERSES 3-7
David already had wives and children before he came to Jerusalem. Now, he took more wives and had more children. Among the children born in Jerusalem was Solomon. If the names are in birth order, then Solomon was the 10th son. But from that position, Solomon became the next king of Israel.
VERSES 8-12
The Philistines heard that David was king of all Israel. They knew that soon David would have control of the Israelite armies. Then, he would fight against the Philistines. So, they came to attack David. They wanted to defeat him before he could make Israel strong.
The Philistines entered the valley called Rephaim, which was to the south and west of Jerusalem and was the boundary between the tribes of Benjamin and Judah.
David trusted God, and he asked God for help. He asked for God’s advice on whether to fight the Philistines or not. He wanted to know from God whether he would win. David obeyed God, and he attacked the Philistines. With God’s help, he defeated them at Baal Perazim town. The name of that town means ‘the Lord who bursts out.'
People believed that the images of their gods would help them in battle. So, the Philistine army took their gods with them. They thought that with their gods they would defeat David. But David, with the LORD’s help, was stronger than the gods of the Philistines. The Philistines ran away, and they left their gods at Baal Perazim. David’s men collected these images of the gods and burned them. This is what God’s law ordered them to do (Deuteronomy 7:25).
VERSES 13-16
The Philistines came again and attacked the people in the valley. David again asked God what he should do. This time, God told him not to attack them. God told David to go round behind the Philistines. David had to wait there for God’s signal. In the trees, there would be a sound of soldiers marching. That sound would show God’s army of angels marching with David’s army. Then David would defeat the Philistines.
The balsam tree is a tree with a sweet smell. Those were the trees in the forest where David’s army waited for God’s signal.
David obeyed God, and he defeated the Philistine army again.
The battle went from Gibeon in Judah to Gezer on the border of Philistine territory, so David forced the Philistines out of Israelite territory.
VERSE 17
News of these battles reached all the countries around Israel, and the LORD caused the people in all these countries to be afraid of David.
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