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.

Also, Hiram, the king of Tyre, sent messengers to David, and cedar wood, and artisans of walls and of wood, so that they might build a house 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 confirmed him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom had been lifted up over his people Israel.

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

Also, David took other wives in Jerusalem. And he conceived sons and daughters.

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

And these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua and Shobab, Nathan and Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

as well as Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

Elishama, and 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.

Then, hearing that David had been anointed as king over all of Israel, all the Philistines ascended so that they might seek him. But when David had heard of it, he went out to meet them.

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

Now the Philistines, arriving, spread out in the Valley of the 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.”

And so David consulted the Lord, saying, “Shall I ascend to the Philistines, and will you deliver them into my hand?” And the Lord said to him, “Ascend, and 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’].

And when they had ascended to Baal-perazim, David struck them there, and he said: “God has divided my enemies by my hand, just as waters are divided.” And therefore the name of that place was called Baal-perazim.

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

And they left behind their gods in that place, and so David ordered them to be burned.

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

And then, at another time, the Philistines invaded, and they spread out in 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.

And again, David consulted God. And God said to him: “You shall not ascend after them. Draw away from them. And you shall come against them opposite 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.”

And when you hear a sound approaching in the tops of the balsam trees, then you shall go forth to war. For God has gone forth before you, so that he may strike down the army 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].

Therefore, David did just as God had instructed him. And he struck down the army of the Philistines, from Gibeon as far as Gazera.

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 the name of David became well-known in all the regions. And the Lord placed the fear of him over all the nations.