1 Chronicles 14

Living Bible

14 King Hiram of Tyre sent masons and carpenters to help build David’s palace and he supplied him with much cedar lumber. ² David now realized why the Lord had made him king and why he had made his kingdom so great; it was for a special reason—to give joy to God’s people!

³ After David moved to Jerusalem, he married additional wives and became the father of many sons and daughters.

^4-7 These are the names of the sons born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, Eliphelet.

⁸ When the Philistines heard that David was Israel’s new king, they mobilized their forces to capture him. But David learned that they were on the way, so he called together his army. ⁹ The Philistines were raiding the valley of Rephaim, ¹⁰ and David asked the Lord, “If I go out and fight them, will you give me the victory?”

And the Lord replied, “Yes, I will.”

¹¹ So he attacked them at Baal-perazim and wiped them out. He exulted, “God has used me to sweep away my enemies like water bursting through a dam!” That is why the place has been known as Baal-perazim ever since (meaning, “The Place of Breaking Through”).

¹² After the battle the Israelis picked up many idols left by the Philistines, but David ordered them burned.

¹³ Later the Philistines raided the valley again, ¹⁴ and again David asked God what to do.

The Lord replied, “Go around by the mulberry trees and attack from there. ¹⁵ When you hear a sound like marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that is your signal to attack, for God will go before you and destroy the enemy.”

¹⁶ So David did as the Lord commanded him; and he cut down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. ¹⁷ David’s fame spread everywhere, and the Lord caused all the nations to fear him.