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 Chiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar timbers, and masons, and carpenters, to build a house for him.

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 knew that the Lord [had] designed him to be king over Israel; because his kingdom was highly exalted, on account of 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 more wives in Jerusalem: and there were born to David more sons and daughters.

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

And these [are] the names of those that were born, who were [born] to him in Jerusalem; Samaa, Sobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

and Baar, and Elisa, and Eliphaleth,

6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

and Nageth, and Naphath, and Japhie,

7 Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

and Elisamae, and Eliade, and Eliphala.

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 heard that David was anointed king over all Israel: and all the Philistines went up to seek David; and David heard [it], and went out to meet 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 assembled together in the giants' valley.

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 enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and will you deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to him, Go up, and I will deliver them into your hands.

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 he went up to Baal Pharasin, and David struck them there; and David said, God has broken through enemies by my hand like a breach of water: therefore he called the name of that place, the Breach of Pharasin.

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

And the Philistines left their gods there; and David gave orders to burn them with fire.

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

And the Philistines once more assembled themselves in the giants' 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 enquired of God again; and God said to him, You shall not go after them; turn away from them, and you shall come upon them near 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 it shall be, when you shall hear the sound of their tumult in the tops of the pear trees, then you shall go into the battle: for God has gone out before you 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 he did as God commanded him: and he struck the army of the Philistines 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 was [famous] in all the land; and the Lord put the terror of him on all the nations.