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.

And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.

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 perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted over 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 other wives in Jerusalem: and he beget sons, and daughters.

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

Now these are the names of them that were born to him in Jerusalem: Samua, and Sobad, Nathan, and Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

Jebahar, and Elisua, and Eliphalet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

And Noga, and Napheg, and Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

Elisama. and Baaliada, and Eliphalet.

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.

And the Philistines hearing that David was anointed king over all Israel, went all up to seek him: and David heard of it, and went out against them.

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

And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the vale of Raphaim.

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 David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to him: Go up, and I will deliver them into thy 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 were come to Baalpharasim, David defeated them there, and he said: God hath divided my enemies by my hand, as waters are divided: and therefore the name of that place was called Baalpharasim.

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

And they left there their gods, and David commanded that they should be burnt.

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

Another time also the Philistines made an irruption, and spread themselves abroad 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 David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the pear 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 thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of the pear trees, then shalt thou go out to battle. For God is gone out before thee to strike 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].

And David did as God had commanded him, and defeated the army of the Philistines, slaying them from Gabaon to 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 famous in all countries, and the Lord made all nations fear him.