1 CHRONICLES LESSON 17
We will begin this lesson in I 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."
Hiram or Huram is, probably, short for Ahiram. In first Kings, he
was spoken of as Hirom. Ahiram was his Phoenecian name. Tyre was short
of food, and Israel needed the cedar. Hiram gave the cedar to David
with no strings attached, but David gave Tyre grain, that they badly
needed. The men of Tyre were skilled in working with wood, and sent
carpenters and masons to build David a house.
I Chronicles 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."
When Hiram built this beautiful house, or more probably, a
mansion for David, David recognized it as another blessing from God.
This had never happened in the 7 years he was in Hebron. He, now,
realized that he was where the LORD wanted him to be. When God pours
out a blessing, it is so abundant that no one can doubt where it is
coming from. David knew God was blessing him mightily.
I Chronicles 14:3 "And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and
David begat more sons and daughters."
In another Scripture, the wives are called concubines. It really
does not matter here, which they were. Children were believed to be
blessings from God, and David had many. One of the signs of a powerful
king was the number of wives he had.
I Chronicles 14:4 "Now these [are] the names of [his] children
which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,"
These 4 sons were born to David by his wife Bathsheba. Shammua is
the same as Shimea in 1 Chronicles chapter 3 verse 5. The genealogy
that leads to Mary, the mother of Jesus, comes from Nathan, mentioned
here. It is very interesting, that Bathsheba would name a child by the
prophet, Nathan's, name.
I Chronicles 14:5 "And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,"
I Chronicles 14:6 "And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia," I Chronicles
14:7 "And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphalet."
These 9 were, also, born to David by his wives in Jerusalem. The
children born of the concubines are not mentioned.
I Chronicles 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 were a constant enemy of Israel. Whoever was king
of Israel was their enemy. They were not seeking him to be friends.
They intended to overthrow him, if they could. They had destroyed
Saul, and they thought David would be no different. They had forgotten
David's God.
I Chronicles 14:9 "And the Philistines came and spread themselves
in the valley of Rephaim."
The valley of Rephaim is the valley of giants. They have spread
themselves for battle. At the time this is speaking of the Philistines
still held some territory around Jerusalem from their previous battle
with Saul.
I Chronicles 14:10 "And David inquired 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 is doing the correct thing in asking God before he goes in
to battle, whether it is the thing to do, or not. He, probably, went
to the high priest and had him to ask of God. We are not told exactly
how he did it, just that he did. David knows when God tells him to go,
He will be with him, and David and his men will win the battle. When
the LORD fights for you, there is no way to lose.
I Chronicles 14:11 "So they came up to Baal-perazim; 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 Baal-perazim."
"Baal-perazim" means master of breaches. This would be
appropriate to name the place, since God broke in upon the enemies for
David. God empowered David and his men for the battle. The "breaking
forth of waters" is speaking of a flood. This battle was unexpected by
the Philistines, and Israel came in on them like a flood.
I Chronicles 14:12 "And when they had left their gods there,
David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire."
These false gods {images} were, probably, made of wood. They were
gathered up and burned. Not only does David defeat the Philistines,
but the false gods of the Philistines are proven to be nothings, as
well.
I Chronicles 14:13 "And the Philistines yet again spread
themselves abroad in the valley."
It appears, from this, that the Philistines who were not killed
in the first battle, regrouped and spread out to war against David
again, in this same valley.
I Chronicles 14:14 "Therefore David inquired 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."
Again, David very wisely got advice from God what he should do.
He was not to attack them at this time. In fact, it would appear that
he was withdrawing. The mulberry trees were located behind them, and
would leave them no way of escape. When the army of Israel appeared to
be leaving the battleground, they would go to the rear of the
Philistine troops and wait for a signal from God to attack.
I Chronicles 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."
Sometimes, the Spirit of God is likened to a mighty rushing wind.
That was what David and his men would hear, before they went to
attack. God would lead the attack. He would fight for Israel. David
and his men would come behind and finish up.
I Chronicles 14:16 "David therefore did as God commanded him: and
they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer."
This is just showing how large their army was. This mattered not
to God. The Philistines were destroyed from Gibeon {Geba} to Gazer.
God honors those who obey His commands. David was given credit for
winning this battle.
I Chronicles 14:17 "And the fame of David went out into all
lands; and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations."
God fought this battle, but the eyes of the nations looking on
gave credit for the victory to David. They feared David, but they,
also, feared the God of David. Their fear was based on the fact that
they knew God was with David. Notice, who brought the fear, it was the
LORD.
1 Chronicles 17 Questions
1. Who was king of Tyre?
2. What did he send to David as material for his house?
3. Who built the house?
4. What were some other names Hiram was called?
5. What did David give Hiram that helped him?
6. What did David perceive that the LORD had done?
7. David recognized this beautiful house as what?
8. Many wives were a sign of what?
9. The four children of David, in verse 4, are the children of
David's wife ____________.
10. How many other children born in Jerusalem are mentioned?
11. Whose children are they?
12. Which of David's children are not listed?
13. Who heard of the anointing of David as king of all Isreal and came
against him?
14. What did David do first, before he reacted to the threat?
15. Where did the Philistines settle themselves?
16. What will happen, since the LORD told David to fight this battle?
17. What does "Baal-perazim" mean?
18. What is the "breaking forth of waters" speaking of?
19. What did David command to do with their false gods?
20. Who does this defeat, besides the Philistines?
21. What did the Philistines, that were not killed in the first
battle, do?
22. When David inquired of God, what did God tell him to do?
23. When was David and his men to attack?
24. What caused the rustling in the mulberry trees?
25. Where were the mulberry trees located?
26. Who went first in the battle?
27. What happened to the Philistines?
28. The fame of __________ went into all the lands.
29. Who did the nations fear?
30. Who brought the fear?
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