1 Chronicles 14:1-17

The Book of 1 Chronicles

God rules History

1 Chronicles

Ian Mackervoy

Chapter 14

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.

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 in order to help his people *Israel. The *LORD had given to David royal honour and authority. But David was king for the benefit of the people.

Verses 3-7 David already had wives and children before he came to Jerusalem. Now he took more wives and he 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 came into the valley called Rephaim. This valley was to the south and west of Jerusalem. It 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 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 they 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 like soldiers who are marching. That sound would show that God’s army of *angels was 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 the *Philistine territory. So, David forced the *Philistines out of the *Israelite territory.

Verse 17 News of these battles reached all the countries round *Israel. The *LORD caused the people in all these countries to be afraid of David.

cedar ~ a kind of tree. Its wood is very beautiful.
lord ~ someone with authority such as the king.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. The name probably means: ‘He is always God.’ This name has a relationship with God’s special promises to his people.
Israel ~ Israel is the special name that God gave to Jacob. His descendants were called Israel after him. So, Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or nation.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
kingdom ~ the place or territory where a king rules and the people over whom a king rules.
Philistines ~ a group of people who lived to the south-west of Judah. They were a nation that frequently fought against the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
temple ~ a special building for the worship of God. Or, a building for the worship of false gods. The Jews had a temple in Jerusalem for the worship of the real God.
worship ~ acts to show honour to God (or to a false god). When people praise and thank God.
Jews ~ another name for the Israelites.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
tribe ~ The Israelites originally consisted of the 12 large families of the sons of Jacob. These families became the 12 tribes of Israel.
Israelites ~ the people whose ancestors are Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Israel ~ Israel is the special name that God gave to Jacob. His descendants were called Israel after him. So, Israel is the nation whose ancestors were Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The country in which they live is called Israel.
ancestors ~ people in history from whom your family has come.
descendant ~ a future member of a family or nation.
lord ~ someone with authority such as the king.
Lord ~ a title for God, to show that he is over all people and things.
LORD ~ ‘LORD’ is the special name that God gave to himself. The name probably means: ‘He is always God.’ This name has a relationship with God’s special promises to his people.
angel ~ one of God’s special servants from heaven. God made angels to serve him and to take his messages.