1 Chronicles 14

1 One day Hiram, the king of Tyre [city], sent some messengers to David [to talk about making an agreement between their countries]. Then Hiram sent cedar logs, bricklayers, and carpenters to build a palace for David.

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him.

2 [When that happened, ] David knew that Yahweh had truly caused him to be the king of Israel, and that he had caused his kingdom to be greatly respected. Yahweh did this because [he loved] his Israeli people.

And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

3 David married more women in Jerusalem, and [those women] gave birth to more sons and daughters for him.

And David took more wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters.

4 The names of the children that were born to him there in Jerusalem are Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

8 When the army of Philistia heard that David has been appointed to be king of all of Israel, they came to capture him. But David heard that they were coming, so he [and his soldiers] marched out to fight against them.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.

9 The army of Philistia had attacked the people in the Rephaim Valley [southwest of Jerusalem] and had robbed them.

Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.

10 David asked God, “Should [my men and] I go and attack the army of Philistia? [If we go, ] will you enable us to defeat [IDM] them?” Yahweh replied, “Yes, go, and I will enable you to defeat [IDM] them.”

So David inquired of God, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will deliver them into your hand.”

11 So David and his men went up to a town where the soldiers of Philistia were staying and defeated them. Then David said, “God has enabled me [and my soldiers] to overwhelm my enemies like [MET] a flood.” So they named that place {That place is called} ‘Baal-Perazim’ [which means ‘Yahweh breaks through’].

So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.

12 [As the soldiers of Philistia fled], they left their idols there. So David commanded his soldiers to burn those idols.

There the Philistines abandoned their gods, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.

13 But soon the army of Philistia attacked the people in that valley again.

Once again the Philistines raided the valley.

14 So again David prayed to God [to ask him what he should do], and God replied, saying “Do not attack the army of Philistia from the front. Instead, go around them, and attack them [from the rear] in front of the balsam trees.

So David again inquired of God, who answered him, “Do not march up after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

15 When you hear something in the tops of the balsam trees that sounds like [soldiers] marching, attack them. I, God, will have gone ahead of you to enable you to defeat the army of Philistia.”

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

16 So David did what God commanded him to do, and he and his army defeated the army of Philistia, all the way from Gibeon [city in the east] to Gezer [city in the west].

So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

17 So David became famous in all the nearby countries, and Yahweh caused [the leaders of] all the [nearby] nations to be afraid of him.

And David’s fame went out into every land, and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.