Philistines Defeated

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David; and David heard about it and went out against them. Now the Philistines had come and (A)carried out a raid in the Valley of Rephaim. 10 David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? And will You hand them over to me?” Then the Lord said to him, “Go up, for I will hand them over to you.” 11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David [a]defeated them there; and David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my hand, like the breakthrough of waters.” Therefore they named that place [b]Baal-perazim. 12 They abandoned their gods there; so David gave the order and they were burned with fire.

13 The Philistines carried out (B)yet another raid in the valley. 14 David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around [c]behind them and come at them in front of the baka-shrubs. 15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the baka-shrubs, then you shall go out to battle, for God will have gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.” 16 David did just as God had commanded him, and they defeated the army of the Philistines from [d]Gibeon even as far as Gezer. 17 Then the fame of David spread in all the lands; and (C)the Lord brought the fear of him on all the nations.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 14:11 Lit struck
  2. 1 Chronicles 14:11 I.e., the master of breakthroughs
  3. 1 Chronicles 14:14 Lit from upon
  4. 1 Chronicles 14:16 In 2 Sam 5:25, Geba

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[a] 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:14 Or aspen, or balsam; also in 14:15. The exact identification of this tree is uncertain.