1Ch 14:1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.
The only important variations from this passage compared to its equivalent in 2Sa_5:11-25 are in 1Ch_14:4-7: the list of the sons of David, and in 1Ch_14:12, where the fact is added that the idols taken from the Philistines were burned.
Now Hiram king of Tyre —The alliance with this neighboring king, and the important advantages derived from it, were among the most fortunate circumstances in David’s reign. The providence of God appeared concurrent with His promise in smoothing the early course of his reign. Having conquered the Jebusites and made Zion the royal residence, he had now, along with internal prosperity, established an advantageous treaty with a neighboring prince; and hence, in immediate connection with the mention of this friendly league, it is said, “David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel.”
1Ch 14:2 And David perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.
his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel — This is an important truth, that David was invested with royal honor and authority, not for his own sake so much as for that of the people of Israel. David was made to know that all his glory and greatness were given only to fit him, as the minister of God, to execute the divine purposes towards the chosen people.
1Ch 14:3 And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.
David took more wives at Jerusalem - His concubines are mentioned (1Ch_3:9), where also is given a list of his children (1Ch_14:5-8), and those born in Jerusalem (2Sa_5:14-16). In that, however, the names of Eliphalet and Nogah do not occur, and Beeliada appears to be the same as Eliada.
David took him more wives - He had six when he was at Hebron, 2Sa_3:2, and now he took more, which was not to his honor, and contrary to the law of God, In this conduct David transgressed an express law, which forbade the king of Israel to multiply wives unto himself Deu_17:14-17 When you come to the land which the LORD your God gives you, and shall possess it and shall live in it and shall say, I will set a king over me, like all the nations around me, you shall surely set a king over you, whom the LORD your God shall choose. You shall set a king over you from among your brothers. You may not set a stranger over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, so as to multiply horses, because the LORD has said to you, You shall return no more that way from now on. Nor shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his heart does not turn away. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold to himself.
David took him more wives - It seems to have been his policy, that hereby he might enlarge his family, and strengthen his interest by alliances with so many considerable families. But all these did not preserve him from coveting his neighbor's wife. Rather they inclined him to it: for men who have once broke the fence, will wander carelesly.
1Ch 14:4 Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,
These are the names of his children - In 2Sa_5:14-16, eleven persons only are mentioned in the Hebrew text, here there are thirteen. It is possible that the Elishama and Eliphelet dying when young, were therefore omitted in the 2 Samuel.
1Ch 14:5 And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,
1Ch 14:6 And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,
1Ch 14:7 And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet.
Beeliada - Eliada, 2Sa_5:16
1Ch 14:8 And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.
The Philistines went up to seek David - in the hope of accomplishing his ruin (for so the phrase is used, 1Sa_23:15; 1Sa_24:2, 1Sa_24:3) before his throne was consolidated. Their hostility arose, both from a belief that his patriotism would lead him, ere long, to wipe out the national dishonor at Gilboa, and by fear, that in any invasion of their country, his thorough knowledge of their weak points would give him superior advantages. They resolved, therefore, to surprise and crush him before he was fairly seated on his throne.
1Ch 14:9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
1Ch 14:10 And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.
David inquired of God - “David consulted the Word of the Lord.”
1Ch 14:11 So they came up to Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim.
Like the breaking forth of waters - “And David said, The Lord hath broken the enemies of David like to the breaking of a potter’s vessel full of water.”
Baalperazim - that is, a place of breaches
The Lord hath broken forth - He very properly attributes the victory of Jehovah, without whose strength and counsel he could have done nothing.
1Ch 14:12 And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.
When they had left their gods there - The practice of carrying images of the gods to battle was common among the nations, and arose from the belief that there was virtue in the images themselves, and that military success would be obtained by means of them.
When they left their gods - An indication of the precipitancy of their flight, and the suddenness with which the Israelites burst upon them like a “breach of waters.” It was the custom of most nations to carry their gods with them to battle: in imitation of this custom the Israelites once took the ark and lost it in the field;
When they left their gods - When the ark fell into the hand of the Philistines, it consumed them: but when these images fell into the hands of Israel, they could not save themselves from being consumed.
And they were burned with fire - that is, his men burnt them at his command according to the law of God, so that no profit might be made of them, Deu_7:5 But you shall deal with them in this way: you shall destroy their altars and break down their images, and cut down their groves and burn their graven images with fire; In this way David fully avenged the disgrace brought upon Israel by the Philistines, when they carried away the ark in the time of Eli.
1Ch 14:13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.
the Philistines yet again spread themselves — They renewed the campaign the next season, taking the same route. David, according to divine directions, did not confront them.
1Ch 14:14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
turn away from them - that is, by stealing round a baca-grove, come upon their rear.
1Ch 14:15 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.
A sound of going - “a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees,” that is, the rustling of the leaves by a strong breeze suddenly rising, was the sign by which David was divinely apprised of the precise moment for the attack. The impetuosity of his onset was like the gush of a pent-up torrent, which sweeps away all in its course; and in allusion to this incident the place got its name.
1Ch 14:16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.
from Gibeon to Gazer - Geba or Gibea (2Sa_5:25) in the province of Judah. The line from this to Gazer was intersected by the roads which led from Judah to the cities of the Philistines. To recover possession of it, therefore, as was effected by this decisive battle, was equivalent to setting free the whole mountain region of Judah as far as their most westerly slope.
1Ch 14:17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.
