14:1 King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him. 

 

King Hiram was the King of Tyre. Tyre was a Phoenician seaport city that controlled much of the trade in the Mediterranean Sea. Tyre was known for her large cedar trees. David exchanged food products from Israel for large cedar trees so that he could build his palace.

 

14:2 David realized that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and that he had elevated his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. 

 

David realized that God established him as King of Israel so that the people could benefit from a righteous king. At one time, many liberals taught that King David was a fictional character. However, in 1993, a stone inscription was excavated in Galilee containing a reference to the “House of David,” and referring to David as “King of Israel.” There also exists a Moabite inscription referring to “the House of David.” The liberals do not use this argument any more.

 

14:3 In Jerusalem David married more wives and fathered more sons and daughters. 

 

Foreign ancient cultures approved of polygamy, but God did not. Polygamy caused a lot of strife and murder in David’s life.

 

14:4 These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 14:5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 14:6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 14:7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet. 

 

Like most ancient kings, David had many wives, concubines, and children.

 

14:8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of all Israel, all the Philistines marched up to confront him. When David heard about it, he marched out against them. 

 

The Philistines wanted to stomp out David’s kingdom before it could get jump-started. The Philistines had always beaten Saul, but they could never defeat David.

 

14:9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim. 

 

Rephaim was in Israelite territory.

 

14:10 David asked God, “Should I march up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord said to him, “March up! I will hand them over to you!” 

 

King Saul would make his own decisions. King David was the opposite. David would often seek the advice of God before making his decisions.

 

14:11 So they marched against Baal Perazim and David defeated them there. David said, “Using me as his instrument, God has burst out against my enemies like water bursts out.” So that place is called Baal Perazim.

 

David easily defeated the Philistines. David knew that he was only an instrument, or a tool, that God used to defeat the Philistines. David came upon the Philistines like a flood and wiped them out.

 

14:12 The Philistines left their idols there, so David ordered that they be burned. 

 

According to the Mosaic Law, idols were to be burned.

 

14:13 The Philistines again raided the valley. 

 

The Philistines were still not convinced, so they raided more Israelite territory.

 

14:14 So David again asked God what he should do. This time God told him, “Don’t march up after them; circle around them and come against them in front of the trees.

 

David had already beaten the Philistines once. It seems that he would attack again without having to ask God for His permission. However, he was cautious and patient with the lives of his men. He asked God for advice. God advised David not to march after the Philistines. Instead, he was to circle around the trees and then attack. Many Christians foolishly move out in life without asking God for direction.

 

14:15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, then attack. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.” 

 

When David heard the sound of marching in the trees, then he was to attack the Philistines.

 

14:16 David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 

 

Saul never could defeat the Philistines, because he was disobedient to God. David had already beaten them twice.

 

14:17 So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord caused all the nations to fear him. 

 

David was obedient to the Lord, so God caused Israel to become a world power. All of the nations feared little Israel.