1 Chronicles 14

1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an 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 perceived that the LORD had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was exalted on high, because 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 took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.

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

4 Now these are the names of his children which he had 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 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.

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 came and spread themselves in 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 enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the LORD said to him, Go up; for I will deliver 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 So they came up to Baalperazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon my enemies by my hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baalperazim.

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 when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned 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 yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.

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

14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said to him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

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 shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then thou shalt go out to battle: for God hath gone forth before thee to smite the host 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 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to 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 fame of David went out into all lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all 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.