1 Chronicles 14 16

1 Chronicles 14:16 kjv

David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.

1 Chronicles 14:16 nkjv

So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer.

1 Chronicles 14:16 niv

So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

1 Chronicles 14:16 esv

And David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer.

1 Chronicles 14:16 nlt

So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

1 Chronicles 14 verses

1 Chronicles 14 16 Meaning

This verse narrates the immediate consequence of David's obedient action, detailing the definitive victory granted by God over the Philistine army. David meticulously followed God's specific command concerning the military strategy, which led to a devastating and wide-ranging defeat of the Philistine forces, driving them from the central region near Gibeon all the way to Gezer, near the coastal plain. It powerfully illustrates the efficacy of divine instruction coupled with human obedience.

1 Chronicles 14 16 Context

This verse is the culmination of the second of two significant victories David achieved against the Philistines, as described in 1 Chronicles 14. After being established as king over all Israel in Jerusalem, David faced persistent threats from the Philistines. The previous verses (14:8-12) recount David's first inquiry of God for battle strategy, leading to a direct confrontation and victory. This verse, however, concerns the second engagement (14:13-16). Crucially, David did not assume the previous successful strategy would work again; instead, he humbly inquired of God again for specific instructions. God's response was different for this second battle, advising a flanking maneuver and waiting for a specific divine sign (the sound of marching in the balsam trees). David's perfect obedience to this precise, divinely-given plan led to the comprehensive defeat described in verse 16, underscoring that faithful obedience to God's unique leading in each situation ensures true victory.

1 Chronicles 14 16 Word analysis

• So David did (וַיַּעַשׂ דָּוִיד - vayya'as David): This phrase highlights immediate, practical obedience. David's action directly follows the divine directive, demonstrating his role as a faithful servant and leader who translates divine will into concrete steps. This isn't just about knowledge or prayer, but the doing.
• as God commanded him (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּהוּ הָאֱלֹהִים - ka'asher tsiwwahu ha'Elohim): This is the pivot point of the verse.
  • `צִוָּהוּ` (tsiwwahu) from the root צוה (tsavah), means "to command," "to order authoritatively." It signifies a clear, unambiguous, and binding directive from a higher authority. It emphasizes the specific, tactical instruction God gave David, which was distinct from the previous battle (1 Chr 14:10 vs. 1 Chr 14:14-15).
  • `הָאֱלֹהִים` (ha'Elohim) refers to the sovereign God, highlighting that the command came from the supreme, all-powerful Divine Being. This underscores the wisdom and power of the source of the command. The success was contingent upon following God's particular, tailored strategy, not a generic battle plan.
• and they struck down (וַיַּכּוּ - vayyakkū): From the root נכה (nakah), meaning "to strike," "smite," "slay." This plural verb indicates the collective action of David's army. However, in the biblical context of divine warfare, it is understood that God was the one ultimately enabling or causing the defeat through them. The sound in the balsam trees (1 Chr 14:15) was the sign that "God has gone out before you to strike down," implying God's direct involvement in weakening or panicking the Philistines.
• the army of the Philistines (אֶת מַחֲנֵה פְּלִשְׁתִּים - et maḥăneh Pelištîm): `מַחֲנֵה` (maḥăneh) denotes a camp, or more broadly, an army or host. The Philistines were the perennial, powerful adversaries of Israel. Their repeated defeat under David, through divine instruction, solidified David's kingdom and demonstrated God's supremacy over these persistent enemies and their pagan gods.
• from Gibeon even to Gezer (מִגִּבְעוֹן עַד גֶּזֶר - miGiv'on ad Gezer): This specifies the geographic extent of the Philistine rout, signifying a decisive and comprehensive victory.
  • `גִּבְעוֹן` (Giv'on) was a significant city in the territory of Benjamin, north of Jerusalem.
  • `גֶּזֶר` (Gezer) was a strongly fortified city in the tribal territory of Ephraim, strategically located near the coastal plain and a common staging ground or retreat for Philistine forces. Its capture or the extent of the chase to it marked a deep penetration into their operational areas. The distance indicates a thorough chase and destruction, leaving no significant remnants behind, ensuring their temporary inability to reorganize.

• "So David did as God commanded him": This phrase forms the central theological principle. It is the perfect convergence of divine sovereignty and human responsibility. David's willingness to wait, inquire, and precisely follow God's specific and distinct (1 Chr 14:14-15) instructions—even if counter-intuitive by conventional military standards—is presented as the key to success. This stands in contrast to relying on past victories or personal intuition.
• "and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer": This describes the decisive and extensive outcome of God's favor and David's obedience. The geographic span illustrates a crushing defeat, demonstrating God's power to grant complete victory when His people walk in His ways. It indicates not just a victory, but a rout and extensive pursuit.

1 Chronicles 14 16 Bonus section

This narrative detail, particularly the distinct commands for the two battles (frontal assault in the first instance, flanking movement in the second after a specific sign), serves as an important biblical example for seeking ongoing, fresh revelation and strategy from God, rather than relying on past successes or assumed methodologies. It highlights that while God is immutable, His leading can be dynamic and tailored to specific circumstances, requiring attentive and humble inquiry from His people. This account also anticipates the deeper New Testament truth that spiritual battles require divine power and spiritual strategies (2 Cor 10:3-4), where obedience to Christ's teachings leads to triumph over spiritual adversaries. The meticulous pursuit "from Gibeon even to Gezer" reflects a "rooting out" of the enemy, symbolic of God's thorough victory over all that opposes His kingdom when His will is obeyed fully.

1 Chronicles 14 16 Commentary

This verse, "So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the army of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer," powerfully encapsulates the principle of victorious obedience. It's not David's military genius, but his humble and precise adherence to God's specific and unusual command (to circle around and attack only when hearing a marching sound in the balsam trees) that secures this overwhelming triumph. The "striking down" is ultimately attributed to God's active involvement, signaled by the sound that went "before you to strike down" (1 Chr 14:15). The widespread defeat "from Gibeon even to Gezer" illustrates the completeness of the divine victory, solidifying David's kingship and confirming God's faithfulness to His anointed leader when he trusts and obeys. The contrast with David's initial direct strategy in the first battle highlights the need for constant, renewed seeking of God's will for each new situation.