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1 Chronicles 14

KJV · Chapter 14/29

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.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

King Hiram of Tyre sends materials for David to build his palace. David has more children in Jerusalem and defeats the Philistines in two battles, following specific instructions from God on how and when to attack.

Explanation

This chapter shows David consolidating his reign on several fronts: international alliances (with Hiram of Tyre), a growing family, and military victories. The most spiritually significant detail is that in both battles against the Philistines, David inquires of God before acting, rather than simply relying on his previous military experience. In the second battle, God gives a specific and unusual tactical instruction — to wait for the sound of marching in the tops of the trees before attacking — showing that David remained attentive and obedient to divine direction even after earlier victories. This pattern of always asking before acting is one of the most admirable traits of David's character.

Fun facts

  • Hiram, king of Tyre, maintained commercial and diplomatic relations with both David and, later, his son Solomon, supplying cedar wood from Lebanon, a material of very high value in ancient construction.
  • The Valley of Rephaim, where the battles against the Philistines took place, lay near Jerusalem, and its name is linked to an ancient tradition of giants who inhabited the region, mentioned in other passages of the Old Testament.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 1 Chronicles 14:1The king of Tyre sends timber and craftsmen for David to build a palace — a gesture showing that neighboring kings already recognized David as an established ruler, no longer a fugitive or a mere contender for the throne.
  2. 1 Chronicles 14:2David understands the alliance with the king of Tyre from the previous chapter as confirmation that God himself had established him as king, exalting his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
  3. 1 Chronicles 14:3Now in Jerusalem, David continues the royal custom of taking more wives, and has still more sons and daughters — a common way ancient kings consolidated power and alliances through marriage.
  4. 1 Chronicles 14:4The list of sons born in Jerusalem begins, among them Solomon — the same list already recorded in chapter 3, repeated here right after the mention of the royal family’s growth.
  5. 1 Chronicles 14:5Three more sons born in Jerusalem round out this part of David’s family, reinforcing the size of the royal court after the move to the new capital.
  6. 1 Chronicles 14:6The names of David’s sons continue — three more, part of the same large group born already in the now-established capital.
  7. 1 Chronicles 14:7The list closes with the last three names — the same group of sons named in chapter 3, repeated here right before the war against the Philistines that follows.
  8. 1 Chronicles 14:8As soon as the Philistines learn that David has been anointed king over all Israel, they go up to attack him — a unified king, unlike a divided Israel under Saul, poses a much bigger threat to them.
  9. 1 Chronicles 14:9The Philistines spread out over the valley of Rephaim — the same valley where they had camped before, back when David was still hiding in the cave of Adullam.
  10. 1 Chronicles 14:10Before every battle against the Philistines, David stops to ask God what to do, and receives very specific instructions, such as waiting for the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees before attacking. It’s a direct contrast with Saul, who at the end of his life turned to a woman with a familiar spirit because he could no longer get answers from God.
  11. 1 Chronicles 14:11David wins the battle at Baal-perazim and credits the victory directly to God, comparing it to a breaking forth of waters tearing through everything — which is why the place gets this name, recalling precisely that “breaking forth.”
  12. 1 Chronicles 14:12The Philistines flee and leave their own gods behind, and David has them burned with fire — fulfilling the law that forbade keeping images of foreign gods as if they were trophies.
  13. 1 Chronicles 14:13The Philistines don’t give up easily: they come back and spread out again over the same valley, forcing a second round of inquiry and battle.
  14. 1 Chronicles 14:14This time God gives a different instruction: don’t attack head-on, but circle around and come up from behind, near the mulberry trees — showing that David doesn’t repeat a tactic without asking God again first.
  15. 1 Chronicles 14:15God gives a very specific sign: when David hears the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, he is to attack, because that means God has already gone out ahead to strike the Philistine army.
  16. 1 Chronicles 14:16David obeys exactly as God commanded, and the Philistine army is struck down over a huge stretch, from Gibeon all the way to Gazer — the victory confirms that hearing the right instruction made all the difference.
  17. 1 Chronicles 14:17David’s fame spreads through all those lands, and the Lord brings the fear of him upon all the nations — closing the chapter with David not only victorious, but respected and feared far beyond the borders of Israel.

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