David’s House and Family - Bible Study...

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Landmark Publications, Inc., 1045 Maynor Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37216, U.S.A., John C. Sewell, Ph.D., Editor.

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David’s House and Family

David Defeats the Philistines

1 Chronicles 14:1-17



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Text:

1 Chronicles 14:1-17:

1. King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar

logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him.

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.

3. In Jerusalem David married more wives and fathered more sons

and daughters.

4. These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem:

Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5. Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6. Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7. Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

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.

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

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!”

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.

12. The Philistines left their idols there, so David ordered that they

be burned.



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13. The Philistines again raided the valley.

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.

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.”

16. David did just as God commanded him, and they struck down

the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.

17. So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord caused all the

nations to fear him. (NET)

Introduction:

I. David is now king in Jerusalem over all Israel.

A. He fought and defeated the Philistines.

B. He increased his influence abroad.

II. David enlarged his family in Jerusalem.

III. The prime goal was to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem

and center all Israel’s religious worship on Jehovah in keeping with the

law of the Lord.

Commentary:


1 Chronicles 14:1-7,

1. King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar

logs, stonemasons, and carpenters to build a palace for him.



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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.

3. In Jerusalem David married more wives and fathered more sons

and daughters.

4. These are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem:

Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

5. Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

6. Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia,

7. Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet. (NET)

I. Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David along with

cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him.

(NIV)

A. David’s being in a position to build himself a palace indicates

that God’s favor was with him. (Hicks)

B. The help provided by Hiram king of Tyre indicates David’s

international respect. (See Hicks.)

1. 2 Samuel 5:11-25, King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers

to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and

stonemasons. They built a palace for David. 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 married more concubines and

wives from Jerusalem after he arrived from Hebron.

Even more sons and daughters were born to David. These

are the names of children born to him in Jerusalem:

Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua,

Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. When

the Philistines heard that David had been designated king

over Israel, they all went up to search for David. When

David heard about it, he went down to the fortress. Now



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the Philistines had arrived and spread out in the valley of

Rephaim. So David asked the Lord, “Should I march up

against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The Lord said to David, “March up, for I will indeed

hand the Philistines over to you.” So David marched

against Baal Perazim and defeated them there. Then he

said, “The Lord has burst out against my enemies like

water bursts out.” So he called the name of that place

Baal Perazim. The Philistines abandoned their idols

there, and David and his men picked them up. The

Philistines again came up and spread out in the valley of

Rephaim. So David asked the Lord what he should do.

This time the Lord said to him, “Don’t march straight up.

Instead, circle around behind them and come against

them opposite the trees. When you hear the sound of

marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at

that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down

the army of the Philistines.” David did just as the Lord

commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines from

Gibeon all the way to Gezer. (NET)

C. Hiram was also helpful to Solomon.

1. 1 Kings 7:13, 40, King Solomon sent for Hiram of Tyre.

Hiram also made basins, shovels, and bowls. He finished

all the work on the Lord’s temple he had been assigned

by King Solomon. (NET)

2. 2 Chronicles 2:13, Now I am sending you Huram Abi, a

skilled and capable man, (NET)

3. 2 Chronicles 4:11, 16, Huram Abi made the pots,

shovels, and bowls. He finished all the work on God’s

temple he had been assigned by King Solomon. and the

pots, shovels, and meat forks. All the items King Solomon



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assigned Huram Abi to make for the Lord’s temple were

made from polished bronze. (NET)

4. Hiram’s reign is dated to 1023-990 B.C. (The Pulpit

Commentary)

II. And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over

Israel and that (because) this kingdom had been highly exalted for

the sake of his people Israel. (NIV)

A. 2 Samuel 5:12, 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. (NET)

B. A palace for the king indicates the idea of permanency.

C. David built a palace for himself before the temple, God’s house,

was constructed.

III. In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of

more sons and daughters. (NIV)

A. David had wives and children in Hebron.

1. 2 Samuel 3:2-5, Now sons were born to David in

Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, born to Ahinoam the

Jezreelite. His second son was Kileab, born to Abigail the

widow of Nabal the Carmelite. His third son was

Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of

Geshur. His fourth son was Adonijah, the son of Haggith.

His fifth son was Shephatiah, the son of Abital. His sixth

son was Ithream, born to David’s wife Eglah. These sons

were all born to David in Hebron. (NET)



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2. At Jerusalem David added other wives and children to his

family.

3. 1 Chronicles 3:5-8, These were the sons born to him in

Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon—the

mother of these four was Bathsheba the daughter of

Ammiel. The other nine were Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

(NET)

B. While polygamy was tolerated at that time, it certainly was not

God’s will from the beginning.

1. A study of the problems which arose within David’s

family makes it clear that, to say the least, David’s family left

much to be desired.

IV. These were the names of the children born to him there: (NIV)

2 Samuel 5:13-15, So David said, “Good! I will make an agreement

with you. I ask only one thing from you. You will not see my face

unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to visit

me.” David sent messengers to Ish-bosheth son of Saul with this

demand: “Give me my wife Michal whom I acquired for a hundred

Philistine foreskins.” So Ish-bosheth took her from her husband

Paltiel son of Laish. (NET)

A. Shammua (Shammuah, Shimea)

1. Shammur was a son of David by Bathsheba.

(Youngblood)

a. 2 Samuel 5:14, These are the names of children born to

him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon,

(NET)



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b. 1 Chronicles 3:5, These were the sons born to him

in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, and

Solomon—the mother of these four was Bathsheba

the daughter of Ammiel. (NET)

B. Shobab

1. Shobab was another son of David by Bathsheba.

(Youngblood)

a. 2 Samuel 5:14, These are the names of children

born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab,

Nathan, Solomon, (NET)

C. Nathan

1. Nathan was yet another son of David by Bathsheba.

(Youngblood)

a. 2 Samuel 5:14, These are the names of children

born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab,

Nathan, Solomon, (NET)

2. Through Nathan the line of descent passed from David to

Jesus Christ.

a. Luke 3:31, the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the

son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

(NET)

D. Solomon



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1. Solomon was a son of David by Bathsheba, David’s

successor as king who reigned forty (40) years (970-931

B.C.). (See Youngblood.)

E. Ibhar

1. Ibhar was a son of David born at Jerusalem. (Youngblood)

F. Elishua

1. Elishua was a son of David born at Jerusalem.

(Youngblood)

a. 1 Chronicles 3:6, The other nine were Ibhar,

Elishua, Elpelet, (NET)

G. Elpelet (Elpalet)

1. Elpelet (Elpalet) was a son of David born at Jerusalem.

(Youngblood)

H. Nogah

1. Nogah was a son of David born in Jerusalem.

(Youngblood)

I. Nepheg

1. Nepheg was a son of David born at Jerusalem.

(Youngblood)

J. Japhia

1. Japhia was a son of David born at Jerusalem.

(Youngblood)



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K. Elishama

1. Elishama was a son of David born at Jerusalem.

(Youngblood)

L. Beeliada

1. Beeliada was a son of David born in Jerusalem.

(Youngblood)

M. Eliphelet (Eliphalet)

1. Eliphelet was the last of David’s thirteen (13) sons born in

Jerusalem.

Note: Observe how little is known about several of David’s sons.

Thirteen (13) sons are listed here while eleven (11) are listed in 2

Samuel 5:13-16.


1 Chronicles 14:8-17, 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. Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of

Rephaim. 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!” 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. The Philistines left

their idols there, so David ordered that they be burned. The

Philistines again raided the valley. So David again asked God what

he should do. This time God told him, “Don’t march up after them;



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circle around them and come against them in front of the trees.

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.” David did just as God

commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from

Gibeon to Gezer. So David became famous in all the lands; the Lord

caused all the nations to fear him. (NET)

I. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king

over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but

David heard about it and went out to meet them. (NIV)

A. Apparently the Philistines became greatly concerned with

David as a threat when he was anointed king over all Israel. (See

Hicks.)

B. David defeated the Philistines who had defeated Saul.

II. Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; .

. . (NIV)

A. The Valley of Rephaim, Hicks wrote, was located SW of

Jerusalem near Bethlehem.

B. Rephaim has been defined to mean giants, chiefs and healers.

III. So David inquired of God: “Shall I go and attack the

Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” (NIV)

A. David’s seeking to learn God’s will and to do it is to his

everlasting credit.

B. Inquiry was often made through the High Priest.



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1. Judges 1:1-3, After Joshua died, the Israelites asked the

Lord, “Who should lead the invasion against the

Canaanites and launch the attack?” The Lord said, “The

men of Judah should take the lead. Be sure of this! I am

handing the land over to them.” The men of Judah said to

their relatives, the men of Simeon, “Invade our allotted

land with us and help us attack the Canaanites. Then we

will go with you into your allotted land.” So the men of

Simeon went with them. (NET)

2. Judges 20:23, 27, The Israelites went up and wept

before the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord,

“Should we again march out to fight the Benjaminites,

our brothers?” The Lord said, “Attack them!” The

Israelites asked the Lord (for the ark of God’s covenant

was there in those days; (NET)

3. 1 Samuel 23:2, 4, So David asked the Lord, “Should I

go and strike down these Philistines?” The Lord said to

David, “Go, strike down the Philistines and deliver

Keilah.” So David asked the Lord once again. But again

the Lord replied, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give

the Philistines into your hand.” (NET)

4. 1 Samuel 30:8, David inquired of the Lord, saying,

“Should I pursue this raiding band? Will I overtake

them?” He said to him, “Pursue, for you will certainly

overtake them and carry out a rescue!” (NET)

5. 2 Samuel 2:1, “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn

is exalted high because of the Lord. I loudly denounce my

enemies, for I am happy that you delivered me. (NET)

IV. The Lord answered him, “Go, I will hand them over to you.”

(NIV)



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V. So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he

defeated them. (NIV)

VI. He said, “As waters break out, God has broken out against my

enemies by my hand.” (NIV)

A. The Targum via Clarke reads, “And David said, The Lord hath

broken the enemies of David like to the breaking of a potter’s

vessel full of water.”

VII. so that place was called Baal Perazim. (NIV)

A. Baal Perazim means “the Lord who breaks out”, in this case

against the Philistines. (See Hicks.)

B. The Pulpit Commentary states that Baal-Perazim is literally

“master of breaches”, the scene of overwhelming defeats, like the

irresistible rush of waters.

1. Isaiah 28:21, For the Lord will rise up, as he did at

Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself, as he did in the

Valley of Gibeon, to accomplish his work, his peculiar

work, to perform his task, his strange task. (NET)

VIII. The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David

gave orders to burn them in the fire. (NIV)

A. These idols were not taken as booty by Israel, but were

destroyed.

1. Deuteronomy 7:5, 25, Instead, this is what you must do

to them: You must tear down their altars, shatter their

sacred pillars, cut down their sacred Asherah poles, and

burn up their idols. (NET)



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2. Deuteronomy 12:3, You must tear down their altars,

shatter their sacred pillars, burn up their sacred Asherah

poles, and cut down the images of their gods; you must

eliminate their very memory from that place. (NET)

B. David gave the order to destroy these idols which is certainly to

David’s credit.

IX. Once more the Philistines raided the valley; . . . (NIV)

A. The Philistines later returned to the Valley of Rephraim but

enlarged their military engagement to involve the territory from

Gibeon (Geba) to Gezer. (See Hicks.)

1. Gibeon was located NW of Jerusalem.

2. Gezer was a Philistine city. (Hicks)

3. By victories in these two wars David secured the territory

of Judah and Benjamin and the Philistines were no longer a

threat to David’s Jerusalem reign. (See Hicks.)

X. So David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not

go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of

the balsam trees. (NIV)

A. Instead of attacking head on, Israel was to circle around and

strike them in a surprise maneuver.

XI. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the

balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has

gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” (NIV)



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A. The Targum via Clarke reads, “When thou shalt hear the sound

of the angels coming to thy assistance, then go out to battle; for an

angel is sent from the presence of God, that he may render thy way

prosperous.”

B. The Pulpit Commentary reads, “When the motion of the

agitated leaves simulated the sound of steps, the stepping of men,

then David and his men were to step forth to battle.”

XII. So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down

the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. (NIV)

A. God, commanded; David obeyed!

B. God struck down Uzzah in the matter of the Ark of the

Covenant and the Philistines when they attacked his people, Israel.

(See Hicks.)

1. God defeats those who oppose him and his way. (Hicks)

2. God blesses those who seek him. (Hicks)

C. Gibeon to Gezer (Gazer) . . .

1. Gibeon was a chief city of the Hivites located about six (6)

miles NW of Jerusalem. (Youngblood)

a. Isaiah 28:21, For the Lord will rise up, as he did

at Mount Perazim, he will rouse himself, as he did in

the Valley of Gibeon, to accomplish his work, his

peculiar work, to perform his task, his strange task.

(NET)

2. Gezer was located twenty (20) miles W of Jerusalem and

was an ancient Canaanite city. (Youngblood)



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a. Joshua 10:33, Then King Horam of Gezer came

up to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down, as

well as his army, until no survivors remained.

b. Joshua 12:12, the king of Eglon (one), the king of

Gezer (one), (NET)

c. Joshua 21:21, They assigned them Shechem (a city

of refuge for one who committed manslaughter) in

the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer, (NET)

XIII. So David’s fame spread throughout every land, and the Lord made

all the nations fear him. (NIV)

A. David’s fame spread to all the surrounding or neighboring lands

and nations. (Clarke)

Conclusion:

I. David was now, having come through many adversities, king of all

Israel.

A. Nothing must be allowed to discourage us from achieving our

entrance into heaven itself.

B. David gave God the credit for all his blessings, sought God’s

will and did it.

C. Uniting Israel in worship of Jehovah in keeping with the will of

the Lord was David’s prime goal.

II. David was not a perfect man, but he stands tall among all God’s

servants.



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A. May it be so with us!



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Questions

1 Chronicles 14:1-17

(Questions based on NIV text.)

1. ______________ is now ________________ in ________________

over ________________ ________________. He ________________

and ______________ the ________________. He ________________

his ___________ ______________. ____________ _____________his

________________ in ________________. The ________________

________________ was to bring the ________________ of the

________________ to __________________ and ________________

_____________ _______________’s _____________ ______________

on _________________ in keeping with the ________________ of the

_________________.

2. Who was Hiram and what did he do? _________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

3. What was the significance of David’s building himself a palace? Was

it appropriate for the King to have a palace before God had a temple?

Explain your answer. ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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4. David had several wives and concubines. Was this wrong? Explain

your answer. _______________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

5. List the sons of David born in Jerusalem as named in 1 Chronicles

14:3-7 and in 2 Samuel 5:13-15. List the same persons side by side.

1 Chronicles 14:3-7 2 Samuel 5:13-15

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

________________________ ________________________

6. How do you account for the differences in these lists? ____________

__________________________________________________________

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7. How many sons did David and Bathsheba have? One of them became

king. Did Bathsheba’s sin benefit her? Explain your answer. ________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

8. ________________ fought and ________________ the Philistines.

Did David have a good spy, intelligence capability? Give evidence to

support your answer. ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

9. Where was the Valley of Rephaim? What happened there? What

does Rephaim mean? ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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10. ___________’s _____________ to _____________ ___________’s

________________ and to ________________ ________________ is to

his ________________ ________________.

11. How was God’s will determined? What method(s) were used by

David to learn what God wanted him to do? ______________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

12. What does Baal Perazim mean? What is the significance of this

name in view of what happened there? __________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

13. What is the meaning, application of the expression, “As water breaks

out . . .”? __________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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14. What did David do with the abandoned Philistine gods? Was this a

good thing to do? What else might he have done with them? ________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

15. Where were Gibeon and Gezer located? What happened there? ___

__________________________________________________________

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16. What strategy did David use in his second battle with the Philistine?

How did he come to use this strategy? ___________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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17. Explain the meaning of the expression, “As soon as you hear the

sound of marching in the tops of the . . . trees.” What kind of trees were

mentioned in verse 15? Compare versions in this regard? ___________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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18. God ________________ those who ________________ him and his

________________.

29. “So ________________’s ________________ ________________

throughout every ________________, and the ________________ made

all the ________________ ________________ him.” Does this mean

that China, India and South American feared David? ______________

Explain your answer. ________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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20. What lessons have you learned from 1 Chronicles 14 that will help

you serve God better? _______________________________________

__________________________________________________________

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