1 Chronicles 14

1 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 14

David’s Wives and Children

          • On verses 1-17, ESV Study Bible notes, “Some of the events described here actually preceded the first mission to collect the ark (see 2 Sam 5:11-25), but as with 1 Chronicles 11-12, the writer is not offering an alternative chronology to his source in 2 Samuel. The events in question (esp. 1 Chron 14:1, 3-5) were evidently not confined to the three months that the ark was in the house of Obed-edom (13:14). Rather, these materials have been repositioned here as illustrations of the Chronicler’s message that blessings accrued to David because he gave priority to seeking God (see 13:3), and that his reign was the antithesis of Saul’s…The blessings that come to David include a palace, a growing family, military success, and the acclaim and fear of the surrounding nations. Each of these will serve as typical blessings on righteous kings in the subsequent narrative. A subsidiary theme of this chapter is the consolidation of David’s power in and around Jerusalem.”

        • NLT Illustrated Study Bible says, “Even though the Ark was not present in Jerusalem…God blessed David’s palace, his children, and his conquest of the Philistines. God’s blessing did not depend on the presence of the Ark. These blessings eventually encouraged David to carry out his original plan to bring the Ark into Jerusalem (15:1-29).”

      • King Hiram of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a house for him. David realized that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel.

        • ESV Study Bible writes, “Hiram’s assistance in building David’s house (palace) in Jerusalem signifies a Gentile ruler’s recognition of David’s kingship over Israel. Hiram will later help Solomon build another ‘house,’ the temple (2 Chron 2:11-16).”

      • David married more wives in Jerusalem and fathered more sons and daughters. These are the names of the children that were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

        • With regard to David’s son here listed as “Beeliada” NET Bible points out, “In 1 Chr 3:8 and 2 Sam 5:16 this name appears as ‘Eliada.’ The form here represents a variant spelling of the name.”

David Conquers the Philistines

      • When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of David. But when David heard about it, he marched out to meet them. Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of God saying, “Should I go and attack the Philistines? Will You hand them over to me?” And Yahweh said to him, “Go, I will hand them over to you.” So David and his men marched against Baal Perazim, and David defeated the Philistines there. David said, “Like waters burst out in a flood, God has used me to burst out against my enemies!” Therefore, they named that place Baal Perazim. The Philistines left their idols there, so David ordered that they be burned in the fire.

        • HCSB reminds us, “The Philistines were David’s former employers and allies.”

        • NLT Illustrated Study Bible remarks, “News of David’s rule over all Israel catalyzed the Philistines to attack; they could no longer regard him as subordinate to their patronage, as they had when he ruled only Judah. They attacked through the valley southwest of Jerusalem (see Josh 15:8). David inquired of the Lord before battle, a direct contrast to Saul’s inquiring of a medium in seeking help against the Philistines (1 Chr 10:13; see 1 Sam 28). David’s order to burn the Philistines idols conformed to God’s instructions (Deut 7:5).”

        • ESV Archaeology Study Bible provides this interesting insight regarding the Philistines leaving their idols, “In the ancient Near East, gods and goddesses (in the form of their idols/images) were often taken on military campaigns, as the Philistines seem to have done here. Their presence was thought to enable or ensure divine participation in the battle. The thirteenth century BC Hittite king Hattusili III claimed, ‘Ishtar, My Lady, put my enemies and enviers at my mercy and I finished them off’ (COS, 1.77:200)…Abandoning one’s gods (in the form of idols) to the enemy was a sign of desperation and surrender. The idols would surely be captured and placed in the temples of the enemy’s gods as a sign of defeat. According to the Chronicler, however, David orders that the Philistines gods be burned. On occasion Assyrian kings would destroy rather than kidnap their enemies’ gods…”

      • And the Philistines raided the valley again, so David inquired of God again. God answered him, “Do not pursue them directly. Instead, circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike down the Philistine army.” David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

        • ESV Study Bible says, “The Chronicler offers a summarizing comment, with another implicit contrast between David and Saul: victory leading to security for Israel and fame for David, as opposed to defeat leading to occupation of Israel’s land by foreigners and ignominy for Saul (10:7, 13-14)…”

        • NET Bible offers this textual note, “The Hebrew word translated ‘trees’ is defined by HALOT 129 s.v…as ‘shrubs.’ Some translate ‘balsam trees’ (see BDB 113 s.v…), cf. NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT.”

      • So David became famous in all the lands, and Yahweh caused all the nations to be terrified of him.

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