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David Established at Jerusalem

14 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs and masons and carpenters to build a house for him.(A) David then perceived that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more sons and daughters. These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, and Nathan; Solomon,(B) Ibhar, Elishua, and Elpelet; Nogah, Nepheg, and Japhia; Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

Defeat of the Philistines

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David, but David heard about it and went out against them.(C) Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.(D) 10 David inquired of God, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” The Lord said to him, “Go up, and I will give them into your hand.” 11 So they went up to Baal-perazim, and David defeated them there. David said, “God has burst forth against my enemies by my hand, like a bursting flood.” Therefore that place is called Baal-perazim.[a] 12 They abandoned their gods there, and at David’s command they were burned.

13 Once again the Philistines made a raid in the valley.(E) 14 When David again inquired of God, God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; go around and come upon them opposite the balsam trees.(F) 15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 16 David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.(G) 17 The fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him on all nations.(H)

Footnotes

  1. 14.11 That is, lord of bursting forth

David’s Palace and Family

14 Then King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar timber, and stonemasons and carpenters to build him a palace. And David realized that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and had greatly blessed his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

Then David married more wives in Jerusalem, and they had more sons and daughters. These are the names of David’s sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada,[a] and Eliphelet.

David Conquers the Philistines

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them. The Philistines arrived and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10 So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”

11 So David and his troops went up to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 12 The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, so David gave orders to burn them.

13 But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. 14 And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar[b] trees. 15 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 16 So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

17 So David’s fame spread everywhere, and the Lord caused all the nations to fear David.

Footnotes

  1. 14:7 Hebrew Beeliada, a variant spelling of Eliada; compare 3:8 and parallel text at 2 Sam 5:16.
  2. 14:14 Or aspen, or balsam; also in 14:15. The exact identification of this tree is uncertain.