1 Chronicles 14: Hiram's gift, David's children, and two victories over the Philistines
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Hiram king of Tyre sends cedar, masons and carpenters to build David a house, and David knows that Yahweh has established him as king. The names of the children born to him in Jerusalem are listed. When the Philistines come up to seek David he asks God, goes up, and strikes them at Baal Perazim, and their gods are burned. When they raid the valley again, God tells him not to go up after them but to circle round to the mulberry trees and go out to battle when he hears the sound of marching in their tops; David does so and strikes the Philistine camp from Gibeon to Gezer, and his fame goes out to all lands.
Who is speaking?
God speaks in 3 of the 17 verses. In verse 10 David asks whether he should go up against the Philistines, and Yahweh answers him: "Go up". In verse 14 David inquires again, and God tells him not to go up after them but to circle round, and the words go on in verse 15: "When you hear the sound of marching...". David's own question in verse 10 and his words in verse 11 are not in gold. Verses 12, 16 and 17, that their gods were burned at David's command, that David did as God commanded, and that Yahweh put dread of David on all nations, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
In plain English: Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees, masons (literally: craftsmen of the wall) and carpenters (literally: craftsmen of wood), to build him a house.
Good to know: tells the same gift in nearly the same words: Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David "with cedar trees, carpenters, and masons". There it adds that they built David a house; this verse says they were sent "to build him a house".
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2David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted, for his people Israel’s sake.
In plain English: David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was lifted up on high for the sake of his people Israel.
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3David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters.
In plain English: David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters.
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4These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
In plain English: These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,
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5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
In plain English: Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,
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6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
In plain English: Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,
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7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
In plain English: Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.
Good to know: has the same list of names, without Elpelet and Nogah and with Eliada where this verse has Beeliada. gives the children born in Jerusalem too, with Shimea where this list has Shammua, Elishama and Eliphelet each twice, Eliada, and no Elishua, Elpelet or Beeliada. The text does not explain the differences.
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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.
In plain English: When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. David heard of it and went out against them (literally: before them).
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9Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
In plain English: Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
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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.”God speaks
In plain English: David inquired of God, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?" Yahweh said to him, "Go up, for I will give them into your hand."
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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.
In plain English: So they went up to Baal Perazim, and David struck them down there. David said, "God has burst out against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting out of water" (this Bible: God has broken my enemies). So they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
The Hebrew word: The text explains the name itself: David says that God "has burst out" against his enemies "like a bursting out of water", and "Perazim" sounds like those words. The verb and the noun come from the same Hebrew root as perets, the root of the name Perez Uzza in . tells the same word-play.
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12They left their gods there; and David gave a command, and they were burned with fire.
In plain English: They left their gods there, and David gave a command (literally: said), and they were burned with fire.
Good to know: The text says plainly that the Philistines left their gods there, and that David gave a command and they were burned with fire. says "David and his men took them away". The text does not explain the difference.
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13The Philistines made another raid in the valley.
In plain English: The Philistines made another raid in the valley (literally: they repeated again and raided).
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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.God speaks
In plain English: David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "Do not go up after them. Go around (or: turn away) from them, and come on them opposite the mulberry trees.
The Hebrew word: "Mulberry trees" is baka, which the dictionary gives as "the weeping tree (some gum-distilling tree, perhaps the balsam)". It is in 4 verses of the Bible, and this Bible says "mulberry" in all 4: here, verse 15, and and . The text does not say more about the tree.
Good to know: Here God answers David and says "Turn away from them"; says David "inquired of Yahweh" and has "Circle around behind them". In this study the words are printed in gold in verses 14 and 15 because the text itself says that God spoke them to David.
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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.”God speaks
In plain English: When 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 down the army (or: camp) of the Philistines."
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16David did as God commanded him; and they attacked the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.
In plain English: David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer.
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17The fame of David went out into all lands; and Yahweh brought the fear of him on all nations.
In plain English: David's name (or: fame) went out into all the lands, and Yahweh put dread of him on all the nations.
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