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The Histories · Old Testament

1 Chronicles 14

1 Chronicles 14: Hiram's cedars, David's sons and two Philistine defeats

General context

Hiram king of Tyre sends messengers, cedar timber, masons and carpenters to build David a house, and David perceives that the Lord has confirmed him as king, his kingdom "lifted up on high, because of his people Israel". He takes more wives in Jerusalem and has more sons and daughters; thirteen sons born there are named, among them Nathan and Solomon. When the Philistines hear he is anointed over all Israel they come up to seek him and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. David enquires of God whether to go up, and the Lord answers, "Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand." He strikes them at Baal–perazim and says God has broken in on his enemies "like the breaking forth of waters", which gives the place its name. The Philistines leave their gods behind, and at David's command they are burned. When the Philistines spread out again, David enquires again and receives a different instruction: not to go up after them but to circle round to the mulberry trees and to move when he hears "a sound of going" in their tops, "for God is gone forth before thee". David does as commanded and strikes the Philistine host from Gibeon to Gazer. His fame goes out into all lands, and the Lord brings the fear of him on all nations.

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 14:1, 1 Chronicles 14:2, 1 Chronicles 14:3, 1 Chronicles 14:4, 1 Chronicles 14:8, 1 Chronicles 14:9, 1 Chronicles 14:10, 1 Chronicles 14:11, 1 Chronicles 14:12, 1 Chronicles 14:13, 1 Chronicles 14:14, 1 Chronicles 14:15, 1 Chronicles 14:16, 1 Chronicles 14:17

1 Chronicles 14 (KJV)

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.

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Historical context

The chapter sits between the two ark chapters and does not say when Hiram's embassy or the battles fell within the ark's three months at Obed–edom's house. The list of thirteen sons born in Jerusalem overlaps with chapter 3, but some names differ in spelling there (Shimea, Elishama, Eliphelet, Eliada against Shammua, Elishua, Elpalet, Beeliada), and chapter 3 grouped Solomon with three brothers by their mother; this chapter names no mothers. The narrator reports David's perception of God's confirmation rather than quoting a divine word about it. David "enquired of God" twice, and the two answers differ; the contrast with Saul, who "enquired not of the Lord" in chapter 10, is drawn by the repeated verb, not by any explicit comparison. The Philistines' gods are burned at David's order. Baal–perazim's name is explained through David's own saying. The sound in the mulberry trees is described only as "a sound of going"; the text does not say what it was.

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 14:4, 1 Chronicles 14:5, 1 Chronicles 14:7, 1 Chronicles 14:2, 1 Chronicles 14:10, 1 Chronicles 14:14, 1 Chronicles 14:12, 1 Chronicles 14:11, 1 Chronicles 14:15, 1 Chronicles 10:14

Literary context

The chapter is a pause between Uzza's death and the ark's return, and it shows David succeeding where the last chapter ended in fear. Two short battle stories are told in parallel: the Philistines spread in the valley, David enquires, God answers, David wins. The parallel makes the difference visible, a direct assault the first time and a flanking approach with a signal in the trees the second, so the point is that David waits for each instruction rather than repeating the last one. David's simile of breaking waters gives the place its name and matches the "breach" of Perez–uzza in the previous chapter, victory named with the same image as judgment. Hiram's gifts and the list of sons at the start show the kingdom taking shape in buildings and heirs before the wars begin. The closing sentence widens the frame from a valley to "all lands".

Cited passages: 1 Chronicles 14:9, 1 Chronicles 14:13, 1 Chronicles 14:10, 1 Chronicles 14:14, 1 Chronicles 14:11, 1 Chronicles 14:1, 1 Chronicles 14:17

Key moments

  1. Cedars from Hiram (1 Chronicles 14:1). Hiram of Tyre sends timber and craftsmen to build David a house.
  2. David perceives his confirmation (1 Chronicles 14:2). David sees that the Lord has established him king for Israel's sake.
  3. Sons born in Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 14:4). Thirteen sons born in Jerusalem are named, including Solomon.
  4. First enquiry and victory (1 Chronicles 14:10). David asks God and is told to go up against the Philistines.
  5. Baal–perazim named (1 Chronicles 14:11). David likens God's breaking through to a flood and the place takes its name.
  6. Idols burned (1 Chronicles 14:12). The Philistines abandon their gods and David has them burned.
  7. The sound in the mulberry trees (1 Chronicles 14:15). God tells David to wait for a sound in the treetops before attacking.

For reflection

The same enemy comes twice to the same valley, and David asks God both times instead of repeating what worked. What would it mean to treat a second, similar situation as a new question?

People in this chapter

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