I Chronicles 14, Alliances and Victories

King David continues to grow in power and success, guided by YHWH.

1 Chronicles 14: 1-2, Support from Hiram of Tyre

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

David develops an alliance with King Hiram of Tyre. The Chronicler records this as confirmation of YHWH's plans for David. A parallel passage is 2 Samuel 5: 11-12.

1 Chronicles 14: 3-7, More wives, more sons

In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters. These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

In a patriarchal society, a powerful man has many wives and therefore many children.  This expectation applies to King David. Mentioned among the children is Solomon, the child he will have with Bathsheba. A parallel passage is 2 Samuel 5: 13-16.

1 Chronicles 14: 8-12, Battle with Philistines

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them.

Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; so David inquired of God: "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" 

The LORD answered him, "Go, I will hand them over to you."

So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand." So that place was called Baal Perazim. 

The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire.
 

Israel has been struggling to get out from under the yoke of the Philistines for some centuries. Upon hearing of a new king in Israel, the Philistines make plans to put David under their control but David, after inquiring of YHWH, defeats them. A parallel passage is 2 Samuel 5: 17-21.

1 Chronicles 14: 13-17, Circle around them

Once more the Philistines raided the valley; so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, "Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army."

So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

This time the battle involves circling behind the Philistine army, a plan communicated to David by  God, in some way. In this victory, David defeats the Philistines "from Gibeon to Gezer", an expression (says Yamauchi) that indicates the Philistine "total expulsion from Israelite territory." The infamous Philistines, a persistent problem since the days of the judges, are vanquished.

A parallel passage is 2 Samuel 5: 22-25.