1 Chronicles 14:1–17

14:3–7 Blessing is further evident in the many “sons and daughters” born to David “in Jerusalem,” a contrast to the demise of Saul’s “house” (10:6). The list is similar to those in 3:5–9 and 2 Samuel 5:13–16. While, as in 2 Samuel 5:13, the wording is “more” wives and “more” children, the Chronicler omits any reference to Hebron, focusing on blessing after David occupied Jerusalem (contrast the genealogical function of 1 Chron. 3:5–9). “Beeliada” is named “Eliada” in 3:8 (also 2 Sam. 5:16), an example of how names with baʻal (meaning “master, lord” as well as being the name of a god) also appear with a form of ʼel (“God”) (cf. comment on 1 Chron. 8:29–40).

14:8–16 The Philistines had brought an end to Saul’s “house” (10:1–6), and then came their first confrontation with David as king, threatening a similar fate. The narrator provides several contrasts showing David’s actions and the results. Saul had “consulted [shaʼal ] a medium” (10:13), whereas David “inquired of [shaʼal ] God” (14:10, 14). The Philistines, in an earlier defeat of the Israelites, saw capturing the ark as taking Israel’s “gods,” placing it as a trophy before their god Dagon (1 Sam. 4:7–11; 5:2). Now in defeat the Philistines “left their gods” at the battle site; the Chronicler’s addition (cf. 2 Sam. 5:21) shows David acting in conformity to Mosaic law (Deut. 7:5; 12:3) by ordering the gods to be “burned” (1 Chron. 14:12).

While the two battles were probably prior to David’s bringing of the ark to Jerusalem (as in 2 Samuel’s order), the Chronicler’s arrangement points to David’s victories as a sign of God’s blessing. God’s “breaking out” in favor of David surpasses his “breaking out” against Uzzah (1 Chron. 14:11; 13:11).

Mention of God “giv[ing] . . . into your hand” (14:10) is a common component of battle narratives (e.g., Ex. 23:31; Josh. 8:7, 18; 2 Chron. 16:8; 18:5, 11, 14; 28:9). The phrase focuses on God’s action, although generally Israelites had some involvement in actual fighting. So in 2 Samuel 5:20, David responded to victory by declaring, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me.” Chronicles, however, has “. . . by my hand” (1 Chron. 14:11). While there is clear affirmation that the victory was due to God, here is endorsement of David’s active role as God’s instrument. Further, in keeping with the Chronicler’s frequent inclusion of the people, his use of the plural “they” (vv. 11,³ 16; contrast singular “he” in 2 Sam. 5:20, 25) shows explicitly that the people shared in the battle and the victory.⁴

Both battles took place in a “valley”: the first is designated as “of Rephaim” (1 Chron. 14:9), southwest of Jerusalem (Josh. 15:8), while the Chronicler links the second with “Gibeon” to the north (1 Chron. 14:13, 16; as in Isa. 28:21). David did not assume the strategy on one occasion was to be repeated. In both cases he “inquired of God” (1 Chron. 14:10, 14); the first battle involved head-on confrontation, whereas the second involved entrapment by circling around, using the cover of trees. Whatever “the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees” was (a similar situation is in 2 Kings 7:6), it was evidence that “God has gone out before you” (1 Chron. 14:15). This time it was obvious to all with David that God was leading.

14:17 The Chronicler closes the section by summarizing the key point: these details exemplify the extent of David’s fame and the Lord’s activity in ensuring David’s continuing success as king, and by implication peace and safety for Israel (cf. Jehoshaphat: 2 Chron. 17:10; 20:29).