1 Chronicles 14

This chapter is part of the account of David in 1 Chronicles. In 1 Chronicles 13, Uzzah dies while the Ark of the Covenant is being moved, and the ark is left at the house of Obed-edom. This chapter interrupts the ark narrative, which resumes in 1 Chronicles 15.

Outline

• Verses 1–2: Hiram king of Tyre sends messengers along with cedar timber, masons, and carpenters to build David's palace. David perceives that the LORD has established him as king over Israel.
• Verses 3–7: David takes more wives in Jerusalem, and the names of the thirteen sons born to him there are listed, including Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon.
• Verses 8–12: The Philistines invade the Valley of Rephaim. David inquires of God and defeats them at Baal-perazim. The idols the Philistines leave behind are burned at David's command.
• Verses 13–17: The Philistines attack again. God instructs David not to go up directly against them but to circle around behind them and to attack when he hears the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees. David strikes down the Philistines from Gibeon to Gezer, and his fame spreads among the nations.

Key Verses

• 1 Chronicles 14:2 "David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel": The verse makes clear that the kingship was given by God for the sake of His people.
• 1 Chronicles 14:10 "Shall I go up against the Philistines?": In contrast to chapter 13, David is shown inquiring of God first.
• 1 Chronicles 14:15 "When thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees": The expression indicates that God goes before His people into battle.

People and Places

• David: King of Israel.
• Hiram: King of Tyre, who helped build David's palace.
• Solomon: A son of David born in Jerusalem, who later succeeds him on the throne.
• Nathan: A son of David, not to be confused with the prophet of the same name.
• Philistines: A people of the coastal region southwest of Israel.
• Jerusalem: The city David made his capital.
• Valley of Rephaim: A valley southwest of Jerusalem.
• Baal-perazim: A place name meaning "the Lord who scatters."

Interpretive Notes

The same events also appear in 2 Samuel 5. In 2 Samuel they precede the account of the ark, but Chronicles rearranges the order and places them within the ark narrative. Some scholars see this arrangement as a way of highlighting David's inquiring of God and the blessing he received.

The two books also differ in several details:

• 2 Samuel states that David "carried away" the idols, whereas 1 Chronicles states that they were "burned with fire." The Chronicles account accords with the command in Deuteronomy 7 to burn idols.
• The list of sons contains eleven names in 2 Samuel and thirteen in 1 Chronicles, which adds Nogah and Elpalet. A similar list appears in 1 Chronicles 3.
• 2 Samuel describes the extent of the final pursuit as "from Geba to Gezer," while 1 Chronicles has "from Gibeon to Gezer."

"Mount Perazim" and "the valley of Gibeon" in Isaiah 28:21 are understood to refer to these victories. The exact tree denoted by the Hebrew word rendered "mulberry" is uncertain, so some translations use the name of a different tree.

The chapter connects to the New Testament through genealogy. The genealogy in Matthew 1 traces the line to Jesus through Solomon, and the genealogy in Luke 3 traces it through Nathan.

In the Korean Church

Verses 14–15 are frequently cited in sermons about a faith that waits for God's timing and follows His guidance. David's practice of inquiring of God at each step is also often presented as a model of prayer and obedience.