1 Chronicles 14

1 And Huram king of Tyre sendeth messengers unto David, and cedar-wood, and artificers of walls, and artificers of wood, to build to him a house.

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.

2 And David knoweth that Jehovah hath established him for king over Israel, because of the lifting up on high of his kingdom, for the sake of His people Israel.

[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.

3 And David taketh again wives in Jerusalem, and David begetteth again sons and daughters;

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

4 and these [are] the names of the children whom he hath in Jerusalem: Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

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

5 and Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,

Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 and Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 and Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.

Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

8 And the Philistines hear that David hath been anointed for king over all Israel, and all the Philistines go up to seek David, and David heareth, and goeth out before them.

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.

9 And the Philistines have come, and rush into the valley of Rephaim,

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

10 and David asketh of God, saying, 'Do I go up against the Philistines — and hast Thou given them into my hand?' And Jehovah saith to him, 'Go up, and I have given them into thy hand.'

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.”

11 And they go up into Baal-Perazim, and David smiteth them there, and David saith, 'God hath broken up mine enemies by my hand, like the breaking up of waters;' therefore they have called the name of that place Baal-Perazim.

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’].

12 And they leave there their gods, and David speaketh, and they are burnt with fire.

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

13 And the Philistines add again, and rush into the valley,

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

14 and David asketh again of God, and God saith to him, 'Do not go up after them, turn round from them, and thou hast come to them from over-against the mulberries;

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.

15 and it cometh to pass, when thou hearest the sound of the stepping at the heads of the mulberries, then thou goest out into battle, for God hath gone out before thee to smite the camp of the Philistines.'

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.”

16 And David doth as God commanded him, and they smite the camp of the Philistines from Gibeon even unto Gazer;

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].

17 and the name of David goeth out into all the lands, and Jehovah hath put his fear on all the nations.

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