1 Crónicas 14

VBL · Chapter 14/29

1Entonces Hiram, rey de Tiro, envió mensajeros a David junto con madera de cedro, canteros y carpinteros para que le construyeran un palacio.

2De esta manera David se dio cuenta de que el Señor lo había colocado en el trono como rey de Israel y había bendecido apoyando su reino por el bien del pueblo del Señor, Israel.

3David se casó con más esposas en Jerusalén y tuvo más hijos e hijas.

4Esta es una lista de los nombres de los hijos que tuvo en Jerusalén: Samúa, Sobab, Natán, Salomón,

5Ibhar, Elisúa, Elpelet,

6Noga, Nefeg, Jafía,

7Elisama, Beeliada y Elifelet.

8Cuando los filisteos se enteraron de que David había sido ungido rey de todo Israel, reunieron todo su ejército para ir tras él. Pero David oyó que venían y salió a enfrentarlos.

9Los filisteos llegaron y asaltaron el valle de Refaim.

10David consultó a Dios y le preguntó: “¿Debo ir a atacar a los filisteos? ¿Me harás victorioso sobre ellos?” .

11Así que David atacó y los derrotó allí en Baal-perazim. “Dios me utilizó para derrotar a mis enemigos como un torrente de agua que brota”, declaró. Por eso el lugar se llamó Baal-perazim.

12Los filisteos habían dejado sus dioses, así que David dio órdenes de que los quemaran.

13Sin embargo, los filisteos regresaron y realizaron otra incursión en el valle.

14David volvió a consultar a Dios. “No hagas un ataque frontal”, le dijo Dios. “En lugar de eso, ve por detrás de ellos y atácalos frente a los árboles de bálsamo.

15En cuanto oigas el ruido de la marcha en las copas de los bálsamos, ve y ataca, porque el Señor ha ido delante de ti para derribar al ejército filisteo”.

16Así que David hizo lo que Dios le dijo, derribando al ejército filisteo desde Gabaón hasta Gezer.

17Como resultado, la reputación de David se extendió por todas partes, y el Señor hizo que todas las naciones tuvieran miedo de David.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

King Hiram of Tyre sends materials for David to build his palace. David has more children in Jerusalem and defeats the Philistines in two battles, following specific instructions from God on how and when to attack.

Explanation

This chapter shows David consolidating his reign on several fronts: international alliances (with Hiram of Tyre), a growing family, and military victories. The most spiritually significant detail is that in both battles against the Philistines, David inquires of God before acting, rather than simply relying on his previous military experience. In the second battle, God gives a specific and unusual tactical instruction — to wait for the sound of marching in the tops of the trees before attacking — showing that David remained attentive and obedient to divine direction even after earlier victories. This pattern of always asking before acting is one of the most admirable traits of David's character.

Fun facts

  • Hiram, king of Tyre, maintained commercial and diplomatic relations with both David and, later, his son Solomon, supplying cedar wood from Lebanon, a material of very high value in ancient construction.
  • The Valley of Rephaim, where the battles against the Philistines took place, lay near Jerusalem, and its name is linked to an ancient tradition of giants who inhabited the region, mentioned in other passages of the Old Testament.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 1 Crónicas 14:1The king of Tyre sends timber and craftsmen for David to build a palace — a gesture showing that neighboring kings already recognized David as an established ruler, no longer a fugitive or a mere contender for the throne.
  2. 1 Crónicas 14:2David understands the alliance with the king of Tyre from the previous chapter as confirmation that God himself had established him as king, exalting his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
  3. 1 Crónicas 14:3Now in Jerusalem, David continues the royal custom of taking more wives, and has still more sons and daughters — a common way ancient kings consolidated power and alliances through marriage.
  4. 1 Crónicas 14:4The list of sons born in Jerusalem begins, among them Solomon — the same list already recorded in chapter 3, repeated here right after the mention of the royal family’s growth.
  5. 1 Crónicas 14:5Three more sons born in Jerusalem round out this part of David’s family, reinforcing the size of the royal court after the move to the new capital.
  6. 1 Crónicas 14:6The names of David’s sons continue — three more, part of the same large group born already in the now-established capital.
  7. 1 Crónicas 14:7The list closes with the last three names — the same group of sons named in chapter 3, repeated here right before the war against the Philistines that follows.
  8. 1 Crónicas 14:8As soon as the Philistines learn that David has been anointed king over all Israel, they go up to attack him — a unified king, unlike a divided Israel under Saul, poses a much bigger threat to them.
  9. 1 Crónicas 14:9The Philistines spread out over the valley of Rephaim — the same valley where they had camped before, back when David was still hiding in the cave of Adullam.
  10. 1 Crónicas 14:10Before every battle against the Philistines, David stops to ask God what to do, and receives very specific instructions, such as waiting for the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees before attacking. It’s a direct contrast with Saul, who at the end of his life turned to a woman with a familiar spirit because he could no longer get answers from God.
  11. 1 Crónicas 14:11David wins the battle at Baal-perazim and credits the victory directly to God, comparing it to a breaking forth of waters tearing through everything — which is why the place gets this name, recalling precisely that “breaking forth.”
  12. 1 Crónicas 14:12The Philistines flee and leave their own gods behind, and David has them burned with fire — fulfilling the law that forbade keeping images of foreign gods as if they were trophies.
  13. 1 Crónicas 14:13The Philistines don’t give up easily: they come back and spread out again over the same valley, forcing a second round of inquiry and battle.
  14. 1 Crónicas 14:14This time God gives a different instruction: don’t attack head-on, but circle around and come up from behind, near the mulberry trees — showing that David doesn’t repeat a tactic without asking God again first.
  15. 1 Crónicas 14:15God gives a very specific sign: when David hears the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, he is to attack, because that means God has already gone out ahead to strike the Philistine army.
  16. 1 Crónicas 14:16David obeys exactly as God commanded, and the Philistine army is struck down over a huge stretch, from Gibeon all the way to Gazer — the victory confirms that hearing the right instruction made all the difference.
  17. 1 Crónicas 14:17David’s fame spreads through all those lands, and the Lord brings the fear of him upon all the nations — closing the chapter with David not only victorious, but respected and feared far beyond the borders of Israel.

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