What changed in God’s instructions when the Philistines invaded a second time?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

God first told David to go up against them, but the second time told him to turn away, approach opposite the pear trees and go to battle when he heard the sound in their tops, because God had gone before him to strike the army.

Chapter breakdown

The chapter records David’s house and children and his victories over the Philistines.

Hiram, king of Tyre, sent David messengers, cedar trees, masons and carpenters to build him a house. David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him as king over Israel and that his kingdom was exalted over his people Israel.

David took other wives in Jerusalem and had sons and daughters. The names of those born to him there were Samua, Sobad, Nathan, Solomon, Jebahar, Elisua, Eliphalet, Noga, Napheg, Japhia, Elisama, Baaliada and Eliphalet. The source includes Eliphalet twice in this list.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went up to seek him. David heard and went out against them. They spread through the valley of Raphaim. David consulted the Lord, asking whether he should go up against them and whether the Lord would deliver them into his hand. The Lord told him to go up and promised to deliver them into his hand.

David defeated them at Baalpharasim. He said that God had divided his enemies by his hand as waters are divided, and that was why the place was named Baalpharasim. The Philistines left their gods there, and David commanded that they be burned.

The Philistines invaded again and spread through the valley. David consulted God again. This time God told him not to go up after them, but to turn away and come upon them opposite the pear trees. He was to go out to battle when he heard the sound of one going in the tops of the pear trees, because God had gone out before him to strike the Philistine army.

David did as God commanded and defeated the Philistine army, killing them from Gabaon to Gazera. His name became famous in all countries, and the Lord made all nations fear him.

The story inside

The chapter moves from David’s house and family to two encounters with the Philistines. Hiram sends materials and workers for a house, and David recognizes that the Lord has confirmed his kingship. David takes more wives in Jerusalem, where the named children are born. On hearing that he has been anointed over all Israel, the Philistines come to seek him and spread through Raphaim. David asks the Lord both whether to go against them and whether they will be delivered into his hand. The answer is to go, with that promise; David wins at Baalpharasim, gives his water comparison as the reason for the place’s name, and commands the burning of the gods left there. The second invasion brings a second consultation and a different command about approach and timing. David obeys and defeats the army from Gabaon to Gazera. The chapter ends by naming both his fame and the Lord’s action in making all nations fear him.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Hiram’s help and David’s recognition are distinct recorded facts. Hiram sends messengers, cedar trees, masons and carpenters to build a house. David perceives the Lord’s confirmation of his kingship. The account does not describe a treaty or give Hiram’s motive, and the list of David’s children keeps both occurrences of Eliphalet without inventing an explanation for the repeated name.
2
David’s first consultation asks two questions. He asks whether to go against the Philistines and whether the Lord will deliver them to him. The answer includes both a command and a promise. After victory, David credits God with dividing his enemies by his hand as waters are divided, explaining the place’s name; he then commands the abandoned gods to be burned.
3
The second command includes a different approach and a signal for timing. David is told not to go up after the Philistines, to turn away and come opposite the pear trees, and to go to battle on hearing the sound in their tops. The given reason is that God has gone before him. David obeys and wins, but the passage does not identify the sound as angelic footsteps or describe an invented route behind the army.

Test your recall

Hiram sends materials and workers for David’s house → David perceives the Lord’s confirmation of his kingship. The Philistines hear of his anointing and come to seek him → David consults the Lord → the Lord commands him to go and promises victory → David defeats them at Baalpharasim. A second invasion occurs → David consults again → God gives a changed approach and a sound as the signal → David obeys and defeats the army from Gabaon to Gazera.

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 42814–42816
1 Paralipomenon Chapter 14 David’s house, and children: his victories over the Philistines.
Lines 42818–42822
14:1. And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and masons, and carpenters, to build him a house. 14:2. And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted over his people Israel.
Lines 42824–42834
14:3. And David took other wives in Jerusalem: and he begot sons, and daughters. 14:4. Now these are the names of them that were born to him in Jerusalem: Samua, and Sobad, Nathan, and Solomon, 14:5. Jebahar, and Elisua, and Eliphalet, 14:6. And Noga, and Napheg, and Japhia, 14:7. Elisama, and Baaliada, and Eliphalet.
Lines 42836–42845
14:8. And the Philistines hearing that David was anointed king over all Israel, went all up to seek him: and David heard of it, and went out against them. 14:9. And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the vale of Raphaim. 14:10. And David consulted the Lord, saying: Shall I go up against the Philistines, and wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said to him: Go up, and I will deliver them into thy hand.
Lines 42847–42853
14:11. And when they were come to Baalpharasim, David defeated them there, and he said: God hath divided my enemies by my hand, as waters are divided: and therefore the name of that place was called Baalpharasim. 14:12. And they left there their gods, and David commanded that they should be burnt.
Lines 42855–42864
14:13. Another time also the Philistines made an irruption, and spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14:14. And David consulted God again, and God said to him: Go not up after them, turn away from them, and come upon them over against the pear trees. 14:15. And when thou shalt hear the sound of one going in the tops of the pear trees, then shalt thou go out to battle. For God is gone out before thee to strike the army of the Philistines.
Lines 42866–42872
14:16. And David did as God had commanded him, and defeated the army of the Philistines, slaying them from Gabaon to Gazera. 14:17. And the name of David became famous in all countries, and the Lord made all nations fear him.