1 Chronicles 14 14

1 Chronicles 14:14 kjv

Therefore David inquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

1 Chronicles 14:14 nkjv

Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

1 Chronicles 14:14 niv

so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, "Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees.

1 Chronicles 14:14 esv

And when David again inquired of God, God said to him, "You shall not go up after them; go around and come against them opposite the balsam trees.

1 Chronicles 14:14 nlt

And once again David asked God what to do. "Do not attack them straight on," God replied. "Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees.

1 Chronicles 14 verses

1 Chronicles 14 14 Meaning

The verse details King David's pivotal act of re-consulting God regarding the Philistine invasion. After his initial victory, David did not assume past methods would suffice but humbly sought God's will anew. God's response revealed a completely different and specific strategy: not to engage in a direct, frontal assault ("Go not up after them"), but to execute a flanking or surprise attack ("turn away from them, and come upon them") from a distinct point indicated by "over against the mulberry trees." This highlights David's dependency on divine guidance, God's active involvement in battle, and the dynamic nature of God's commands.

1 Chronicles 14 14 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 14 describes the early successes and establishment of David's kingdom after he became king over all Israel and established his capital in Jerusalem. The chapter opens with Hiram of Tyre assisting David in building his royal palace, symbolizing David's divinely sanctioned rule and prosperity. Verses 8-17 then recount two significant military victories against the Philistines in the valley of Rephaim, underscoring God's continued support for David. The first engagement (1 Chr 14:8-12) saw David successfully defeat the Philistines after first inquiring of God for direction. However, in an immediate aftermath, the Philistines returned and spread out in the valley (1 Chr 14:13), presenting a renewed threat. This immediate recurrence sets the crucial stage for David's second inquiry in verse 14. His previous victory did not make him complacent; rather, he continued his pattern of seeking divine counsel for each specific situation, leading to a new, unexpected, and successful strategy revealed by God. Historically, the Philistines represented a persistent threat to Israel's security and existence. David's victories, orchestrated by God, solidified Israel's boundaries and established David as the divinely appointed champion against Israel's enemies, starkly contrasting with Saul's ultimate downfall due to his failure to inquire of the Lord.

1 Chronicles 14 14 Word analysis

• And David enquired (וַיִּשְׁאַל דָּוִיד - wa-yish'al Dawid):
  • וַיִּשְׁאַל (wa-yish'al): Hebrew verb sha'al (שָׁאַל), "to ask," "to inquire." This highlights David's core practice of humble dependence and submission to God's will. It showcases a leader who prioritized divine wisdom over human strategy or past successes.
  • דָּוִיד (Dawid): King David, presented as a model of seeking God in every circumstance. His inquiry contrasts with the fatal omission of Saul in not seeking God (1 Chr 10:14).
• of God (בֵּאלֹהִים - b'Elohim):
  • בֵּאלֹהִים (b'Elohim): "Of God" or "from God." The term Elohim (אֱלֹהִים) signifies the ultimate divine authority to whom David sought guidance, distinguishing this from reliance on idols or human counsel.
• again (עוֹד - od):
  • עוֹד (od): This crucial word signifies repetition, persistence, and continuous seeking. It emphasizes that even after a recent success, David recognized the need for fresh, specific divine instruction for the renewed challenge, preventing presumption or reliance on old formulas.
• and God said (וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים - wa-yomer Elohim):
  • וַיֹּאמֶר (wa-yomer): "And He said." God's direct, personal, and authoritative response to David's inquiry.
  • אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): God, confirming the divine source of the command.
• unto him (אֵלָיו - elav):
  • אֵלָיו (elav): "To him." Personal communication from God to David, showing intimate guidance.
• Go not up after them (לֹא תַעֲלֶה אַחֲרֵיהֶם - lo ta'aleh ahareihem):
  • לֹא תַעֲלֶה (lo ta'aleh): "Do not go up." Ta'aleh (תַעֲלֶה) from alah (עלה), meaning "to go up" or "to attack." The negative lo (לֹא) indicates a direct prohibition, forbidding the direct, frontal assault previously used. This emphasizes God's dynamic and varied strategies.
  • אַחֲרֵיהֶם (ahareihem): "After them," meaning in pursuit or directly confronting them.
• turn away from them (הֵסֵב מֵעֲלֵיהֶם - hesev me'aleihem):
  • הֵסֵב (hesev): Hebrew Hifil imperative, "turn away," "turn aside," "circle around." This command prescribes a strategic deviation, implying an outflanking maneuver or an approach from an unexpected direction. It demands tactical flexibility guided by God.
  • מֵעֲלֵיהֶם (me'aleihem): "From over against them," indicating moving away from their main presence.
• and come upon them (וּבָאתָ עֲלֵיהֶם - u-va'ta 'aleihem):
  • וּבָאתָ (u-va'ta): "And you shall come/go," from bo (בוא). This completes the new strategic instruction, describing the surprise attack.
  • עֲלֵיהֶם ('aleihem): "Upon them," signaling the point of engagement from the new position.
• over against the mulberry trees (מִמּוּל הַבְּכָאִים - mi-mul ha-beka'im):
  • מִמּוּל (mi-mul): "Over against," "opposite," "in front of." It marks a specific location for David's new point of attack.
  • הַבְּכָאִים (ha-beka'im): The "Baka trees." While traditionally translated "mulberry," scholars often suggest "balsam" or "poplar" trees, possibly known for dripping sap (connecting to the root baka "to weep"). The parallel in 2 Sam 5:24 makes their significance clearer: a "sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees" would be the divine signal, signifying God's host moving before David's army. This turns a natural landmark into a signpost for divine timing and intervention.

1 Chronicles 14 14 Bonus section

The valley of Rephaim, where these battles occurred, was a well-known area south-west of Jerusalem, associated with giants ("Rephaim") in ancient times. God's victory here over the Philistines thus subtly asserts His dominion over all perceived threats, even those associated with formidable enemies or ancestral fears. The "sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees" (from 2 Samuel's parallel account) is interpreted by many scholars as a divine manifestation—the rustling sound was the indication of God's angelic host going out to prepare the way. This serves as a powerful polemic against the divination and omens often employed by pagan nations, presenting Yahweh as the active, speaking God who personally signals His movements and strategies to His faithful followers. This event significantly increased David's renown, establishing the "dread of David" throughout the land (1 Chr 14:17), yet fundamentally rooted in the "dread of God" who fought on his behalf.

1 Chronicles 14 14 Commentary

1 Chronicles 14:14 presents David as a prototype of righteous leadership defined by unwavering dependence on God. His choice to "enquire of God again," despite recent success in a similar situation, underlines that divine guidance is not a one-time acquisition but a continuous necessity. God's instruction for a new strategy – turning away from a direct attack to an outflanking maneuver signaled by the mulberry trees – teaches that God's wisdom transcends human conventional wisdom and requires agile obedience. Victory belongs to God and is achieved through His methods, which are often surprising and always tailored to the moment. This passage calls believers to avoid relying on past methods or human logic, but to humbly and persistently seek God's specific, dynamic direction for every challenge, trusting that He will orchestrate their victories by going before them.