Chapter Fourteen

1. Building of a palace by David. 2–7. The increase of his family. 8–17. Two victories over the Philistines.

The content of the chapter represents a repetition of (2 Sam 5:11-25). While reproducing its details, the author only changes the order of events. According to the Book of Kings, David’s building of his palace preceded the bringing of the covenant ark (2 Sam 5:10-11 and foll.), but according to the Book of Chronicles, it took place after this event. A sufficient motive for such rearrangement could be the author’s desire to show that David is truly a king of the theocratic state: the bringing of the covenant ark gave, from a theocratic point of view, something more important than the building of a palace, and concerns him before he concerns himself with personal comforts.

1 Chronicles 14:8. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. 1 Chronicles 14:9. And the Philistines came and spread out in the valley of Rephaim. 1 Chronicles 14:10. And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand? And the Lord said to him, Go up, and I will give them into your hand. 1 Chronicles 14:11. And they went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there; and David said, God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 1 Chronicles 14:12. And they left their gods there, and David commanded, and they were burned in the fire. 1 Chronicles 14:13. And the Philistines came again and spread out in the valley. 1 Chronicles 14:14. And David inquired of God again, and God said to him, You shall not go up after them; turn away from them and come upon them opposite the mulberry trees; 1 Chronicles 14:15. And when you hear the sound like footsteps marching on the tops of the mulberry trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines. 1 Chronicles 14:16. And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 1 Chronicles 14:17. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord made him a terror to all nations. Verses 8–17: According to the author’s understanding (1 Chr 13:14) cf. (1 Chr 15:25), the victories over the Philistines occurred during the three months when the covenant ark remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

1 Chronicles 14:8. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them. Instead of “went out to meet them,” in (2 Sam 5:17) stands a less definite expression: “withdrew into the stronghold.”

1 Chronicles 14:17. And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord made him a terror to all nations. The remark of this verse is absent from the Book of Kings. Cf. similar remarks (2 Chr 17:10).