1 Chronicles 14

David Gets Set Up as King

1 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, bringing cedar wood, stonemasons, and carpenters to build him a palace.

2 When David saw what was happening, he knew for sure that the LORD had locked him in as king over Israel, God was putting respect on his name for the sake of His people.

David’s Family Grows

3 David took more wives while he was in Jerusalem, and he had more sons and daughters.

4 Here is the list of the kids born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

The Philistines Try David, but God Delivers

8 When the Philistines heard that David had been crowned king over the whole nation of Israel, they mobbed out, trying to catch him slipping. But David caught wind and dipped down to the stronghold.

9 The Philistines rolled deep and spread out across the Valley of Rephaim, getting ready for war.

10 David did not just react, he asked God straight up, “Should I go fight these Philistines, You are going to hand them over to me?” And the LORD answered, “Go head. I got you. I am delivering them right into your hands.”

11 So David and his crew pulled up to Baal-perazim, and they smashed the Philistines. David said, “God broke through my enemies like water busting through a dam.” That is why that place got called Baal-perazim, which means “The Lord Breaks Through.”

12 The Philistines left their idols behind when they ran off, and David gave the order to burn them up.

God Gives David a Battle Plan

13 But the Philistines were not done, they came back and spread out again in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 David did not assume anything. He went back and asked God again. This time, God said, “Do not go straight at them. Circle around and come up behind near the balsam trees.”

15 He told him, “When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, that is the signal. That is Me, the LORD, stepping out in front of you to hit the Philistines hard.”

16 David did exactly what God said. He hit them from Gibeon all the way to Gezer, and the Philistines got wrecked.

17 After that, David’s name was ringing in every nation around. God had made sure fear hit every enemy before David even showed up.