Catholic Commentary on 1 Chronicles 14

"So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him." (1 Chronicles 14:17)

David's Family and Victories over the Philistines

Hiram king of Tyre sends cedar, carpenters, and stonemasons to build David a palace. More sons and daughters are born to David in Jerusalem. The Philistines hear he has been anointed king and come up to attack. David inquires of God: shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you deliver them into my hands? God answers: go, I will deliver them into your hands. David defeats them and they abandon their gods, which David orders burned. The Philistines come up again. David inquires of God again and receives different instructions: do not go up; circle around them and attack from in front of the poplar trees. When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, move out, because that will mean God has gone before you to strike the Philistine army. He does so; the Philistines are routed from Gibeon to Gezer. So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

David inquires twice and receives two different battle plans. The Catechism identifies this as the principle of fresh discernment for each new situation: yesterday's strategy is not automatically today's instruction (CCC 1788).

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, David won the first Philistine battle one way and the second a completely different way. He did not assume the second battle would follow the first battle's plan. He asked again. Inquire again, even about situations that look identical to situations you have already resolved. God may have a different plan this time.

Prayer

Lord God, give us David's discipline of fresh inquiry: not assuming yesterday's answer applies to today's situation, but asking again each time. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

14
David’s Family Grows
(2 Samuel 5:12-16)
1 Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons, and carpenters, to build a palace for him. 2 And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had highly exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.
 
3 And David took more wives in Jerusalem and became the father of more sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua,* 14:4 Shammua is a variant of Shimea; see 1 Chronicles 3:5. Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Beeliada,† 14:7 Beeliada is a variant of Eliada; see 2 Samuel 5:16. and Eliphelet.
Two Victories over the Philistines
(2 Samuel 5:17-25)
 
8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went out to face them.
 
9 Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim. 10 So David inquired of God, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?”
 
“Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will deliver them into your hand.”
 
11 So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.‡ 14:11 Baal-Perazim means The Lord Bursts Out. 12 There the Philistines abandoned their gods, and David ordered that they be burned in the fire.
 
13 Once again the Philistines raided the valley. 14 So David again inquired of God, who answered him, “Do not march up after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.§ 14:14 Or aspen trees or poplar trees; also in verse 15 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”
 
16 So David did as God had commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 And David’s fame went out into every land, and the LORD caused all nations to fear him.

*14:4 14:4 Shammua is a variant of Shimea; see 1 Chronicles 3:5.

†14:7 14:7 Beeliada is a variant of Eliada; see 2 Samuel 5:16.

‡14:11 14:11 Baal-Perazim means The Lord Bursts Out.

§14:14 14:14 Or aspen trees or poplar trees; also in verse 15

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