1 Chronicles 14: David's House and His Philistine Victories

David's growing household in Jerusalem and two decisive wins over the Philistines.

1 Chronicles 14: David's House and Victories

Between the ark's two journeys, 1 Chronicles 14 records Hiram of Tyre sending cedar and craftsmen to build David a house, a sign David reads as confirmation of his kingship after the setback in 1 Chronicles 13. More sons are then born to him in Jerusalem.


And Iram, the kyng of Tyre, sente messageris to Dauid, and `he sente trees of cedre, and werk men of wallis and of trees, that thei schulden bilde to hym an hows.

And Dauid knewe that the Lord hadde confermyd hym in to kyng on Israel; and that his rewme was reisid on his puple Israel.

And Dauid took othere wyues in Jerusalem, and gendride sones and douytris.

And these ben the names of hem that weren borun to hym in Jerusalem; Sammu, and Sobab, Nathan, and Salomon,

Jeber, and Elisu, and Heli, and Eliphalech,

and Noga, and Napheg, and Japhie,

and Elisama, and Baliada, and Eliphelech.

Forsothe the Filisteis herden that Dauid was anoyntid `in to kyng on al Israel, and alle stieden to seke Dauid. And whanne Dauid hadde herd this thing, he yede out ayens hem.

Forsothe Filisteis camen, and weren spred abrood in the valey of Raphaym;

and Dauid counselide the Lord, and seide, Whether Y schal stie to Filisteis? and whether thou schalt bitake hem in to myn hondis? And the Lord seide to hym, Stie thou, and Y schal bitake hem in thin hond.

And whanne thei hadden styed in to Baal Pharasym, Dauid smoot hem there, and seide, God hath departid myn enemyes bi myn hond, as watris ben departid. And therfor the name of that place was clepid Baal Pharasym; and thei leften there her goddis,

which Dauid comaundide to be brent.

Forsothe another tyme Filisteis felden in, and weren spred abrood in the valei;

and eft Dauid counseilide the Lord, and the Lord seide to hym, Thou schalt not stie aftir hem; go awei fro hem, and thou schalt come ayens hem euen ayens the pere trees.

And whanne thou schalt here the sowun of a goere in the cop of the pere trees, thanne thou schalt go out to batel; for the Lord is go out byfor thee, to smyte the castels of Filisteis.

Therfor Dauid dide as God comaundide to hym, and he smoot the castels of Filisteis fro Gabaon `til to Gazara.

And the name of Dauid was puplischid in alle cuntreis, and the Lord yaf his drede on alle folkis.

God gives David two separate victories over the Philistines, the second only after David waits for the sound of marching in the mulberry trees. Verse 17 says his fame spread to every land, echoing the promise in <a href="/bible/wycliffe/deuteronomy/chapter-2/25">Deuteronomy 2:25</a>, before the ark is finally brought home in <a href="/bible/wycliffe/1-chronicles/chapter-15">1 Chronicles 15</a>.