1 Chronicles 14

1 Chronicles 14:1

14:1, 2 After David was established as king over all Israel, Hiram, king of Tyre, sent men and materials to build David a house. This was the beginning of a long and close friendship that extended into the reign of Solomon. 14:3-7 David sinned against the Lord by “multiplying wives”; this was expressly forbidden in Deu_17:17. Chronicles, while recording the violation, does not mention its sinful implication. The first four children mentioned in verse 4 were the sons of Bathsheba (1Ch_3:5). 2 Samuel 11 records David’s illicit affair with her. However, even here we see the grace of God at work, for the names of two of the children of this marriage appear in the genealogy of our Lord: Nathan (Luk_3:31), ancestor of Mary, and Solomon (Mat_1:6), ancestor of Joseph. 14:8-17 Upon hearing that David had been made king in Israel, the Philistines came up to attack him. David inquired of God (v. 10) and won a spectacular victory. The idols, which could not deliver their worshipers from the living God, were carried away (2Sa_5:21) and burned (v. 12). When the Philistines recovered and returned for a second attack, David inquired again of the Lord. He didn’t assume that God’s guidance would be the same. This time God gave victory through a completely different battle-plan. These victories struck fear into the hearts of neighboring nations. Note the connection between verses 16 and 17: “So David did as God commanded him . . . Then the fame of David went out into all lands.”