1 Chronicles 14: Established and Victorious
Hiram honors David, his household and fame grow, and twice he inquires of God before striking down the Philistines who come against him.
1 Chronicles 14 (WEB)
1 Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
2 David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel’s sake.
3 David took more wives at Jerusalem; and David became the father of more sons and daughters.
4 These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
5 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet,
6 and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
7 and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8 When the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David: and David heard of it, and went out against them.
9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
10 David inquired of God, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hand?” Yahweh said to him, “Go up; for I will deliver them into your hand.”
11 So they came up to Baal Perazim, and David struck them there; and David said, God has broken my enemies by my hand, like the breach of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Perazim.
12 They left their gods there; and David gave commandment, and they were burned with fire.
13 The Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.
14 David inquired again of God; and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them. Turn away from them, and come on them over against the mulberry trees.
15 It shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”
16 David did as God commanded him: and they struck the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.
17 The fame of David went out into all lands; and Yahweh brought the fear of him on all nations.
1 Chronicles 14 (KJV)
1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
2 And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.
3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.
4 Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
5 And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,
6 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
7 And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.
8 And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.
9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
10 And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.
11 So they came up to Baal–perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal–perazim.
12 And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.
14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
15 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.
17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.
1 Chronicles 14 (ASV)
1 And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar-trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.
2 And David perceived that Jehovah had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel’s sake.
3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem; and David begat more sons and daughters.
4 And these are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
5 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet,
6 and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
7 and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
8 And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David: and David heard of it, and went out against them.
9 Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim.
10 And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And Jehovah said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thy hand.
11 So they came up to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there; and David said, God hath broken mine enemies by my hand, like the breach of waters. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim.
12 And they left their gods there; and David gave commandment, and they were burned with fire.
13 And the Philistines yet again made a raid in the valley.
14 And David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Thou shalt not go up after them: turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry-trees.
15 And it shall be, when thou hearest the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry-trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle; for God is gone out before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
16 And David did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.
17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and Jehovah brought the fear of him upon all nations.
Summary
Hiram king of Tyre sends messengers, cedar, masons, and carpenters to build David a house, and David perceives that Yahweh has established him as king over Israel and exalted his kingdom for the sake of God's people. David takes more wives in Jerusalem and fathers many sons and daughters, whose names are recorded. When the Philistines hear that David has been anointed king over all Israel, they come up in force to seek him, raiding the valley of Rephaim. Rather than relying on his own judgment, David inquires of God, asking whether he should go up and whether God will deliver the enemy into his hand. Yahweh answers, “Go up,” and David strikes them at Baal Perazim, declaring that God has broken his enemies like a breach of bursting waters. The Philistines abandon their idols there, and David has them burned with fire. When the Philistines raid again, David inquires a second time, and this time God gives different instructions: he is not to attack directly but to circle around and wait for the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, the sign that God has gone out before him. David obeys exactly, defeats the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer, and his fame spreads through all lands as Yahweh puts the fear of him on the nations. The chapter shows a king whose victories rest on humble dependence on God.
Main Characters
- David — The newly established king who recognizes God's hand in his rise and seeks the LORD's direction before each battle rather than trusting his own strength.
- Hiram king of Tyre — The foreign king who honors David by sending materials and craftsmen to build his house, a sign of David's growing standing.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who establishes David's kingdom, answers his inquiries, goes out before his army, and spreads the fear of David among the nations.
- The Philistines — Israel's persistent enemies who twice come against the new king and are twice defeated, leaving even their idols behind to be burned.
Key Verse
1 Chronicles 14:2 (WEB)
David perceived that Yahweh had established him king over Israel; for his kingdom was exalted on high, for his people Israel’s sake.
Lessons Learned
- God establishes and exalts his servants not for their own sake but for the sake of his people (1 Chronicles 14:2).
- A wise leader inquires of God before acting, even when the path seems obvious (1 Chronicles 14:10).
- God's guidance is not always identical; yesterday's method may not be today's, so we keep seeking him (1 Chronicles 14:14).
- Victory belongs to the God who goes out before his people, not to human strength (1 Chronicles 14:15).
- God exalts his servants for his people's good. David sees that his kingdom “was exalted on high, for his people Israel’s sake” (1 Chronicles 14:2, WEB). Position and influence are gifts entrusted for the blessing of others, not self-glory.
- Seek God before you act. “David inquired of God” (1 Chronicles 14:10, WEB) before going to battle. Even an experienced warrior submits his plans to the Lord's direction first.
- God's guidance can differ from one situation to the next. The second time, God says, “You shall not go up after them. Turn away from them” (1 Chronicles 14:14, WEB). We cannot simply repeat past methods; we must keep listening to God.
- The battle belongs to the Lord who goes before us. David is to move “for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines” (1 Chronicles 14:15, WEB). Our obedience follows God's prior action.
- God is glorified when idols are abandoned. The Philistines “left their gods there” (1 Chronicles 14:12, WEB), and David burns them. Genuine victory exposes false gods as powerless before the living God.
- How does David interpret Hiram's gifts and his growing household? What does it reveal about where he gives the credit?
- Why is it significant that David inquires of God before each battle, even after a clear first victory?
- God answers the two Philistine raids with two different strategies. What does this teach us about depending on God rather than on formulas?
- What is the meaning of the “sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees,” and how does it picture God going before his people?
- In what current decision are you tempted to act on past experience or instinct rather than freshly inquiring of God?
- David reads his success as God's doing, established for Israel's sake rather than his own glory. Encourage the group to receive promotion, provision, and influence as stewardships for serving others and honoring God.
- By inquiring even when the answer seems obvious, David shows a settled habit of dependence. Discuss how easy it is to consult God in crises but act independently in routine matters, and the value of a praying-first posture.
- The differing strategies guard us against reducing faith to a technique. God may lead differently in similar-looking situations, so we keep seeking him personally. Help the group hold their plans loosely and stay attentive to God.
- The sound was God's signal that he had already gone ahead into battle; David's task was to follow where God was already at work. This pictures the gospel pattern of joining what God is doing rather than launching our own efforts.
- This is a gentle personal-application question. Invite members to name one decision they are facing and to commit to genuinely seeking God in it, rather than defaulting to autopilot, trusting that he still guides those who ask.