1 Chronicles 14 8

1 Chronicles 14:8 kjv

And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.

1 Chronicles 14:8 nkjv

Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went out against them.

1 Chronicles 14:8 niv

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them.

1 Chronicles 14:8 esv

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went out against them.

1 Chronicles 14:8 nlt

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them.

1 Chronicles 14 verses

1 Chronicles 14 8 Meaning

1 Chronicles 14:8 narrates the immediate hostile reaction of the Philistines upon hearing that David had been established as king over all Israel. Recognizing David's God-given authority and the newly unified strength of Israel as a direct threat to their regional dominance, the Philistines swiftly mobilized to confront him. However, David, being alert to their plans, did not wait for them to initiate an attack but proactively went out to meet them in battle. This verse sets the stage for a critical engagement demonstrating David's leadership and the divine protection over God's anointed king.

1 Chronicles 14 8 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 14 begins after David has established Jerusalem as his capital and brought the ark of the covenant there, signifying his reign's spiritual and political legitimacy. Verse 8 immediately follows the mention of Hiram, King of Tyre, acknowledging David's kingship by supplying materials for his palace, underscoring David's rising international recognition. The Philistines, historically Israel's most formidable adversaries, recognize David's ascension as "king over all Israel" (combining both Judah and the northern tribes) as a profound geopolitical shift. Their aggressive move in this verse is a desperate attempt to curb David's unifying power and reassert their dominance. The Chronicler highlights David's subsequent inquiries of God (1 Chron 14:10, 14:14) before engaging the Philistines, a key motif emphasizing David's trust in God, a stark contrast to Saul's failures, and a critical lesson for the post-exilic audience of Chronicles. This chapter, therefore, stresses David's divinely sanctioned leadership and the active hand of God in establishing his kingdom.

1 Chronicles 14 8 Word analysis

• When the Philistines (פְּלִשְׁתִּים - Pelishtim): This term refers to the inhabitants of the coastal plain, a traditional and enduring enemy of Israel throughout the Judges and early Monarchy periods. Their continuous antagonism underscores their resistance to God's chosen people and kingdom. Their unity in action here ("all the Philistines") shows the severity of their perception of the threat David posed.
• heard (שָׁמַע - shama'): To hear, to understand, to obey. Here, it signifies gaining intelligence or information, and more deeply, an understanding of the profound implications of what they heard. They grasped the significance of David's new status.
• that David had been anointed (מָשַׁח - mashach) king (מֶלֶךְ - melekh) over all Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): "Anointed king" signifies divine selection and empowerment. This isn't merely a political title; it implies God's backing and legitimizes David's rule. The Philistines perceived David's kingship "over all Israel" – meaning a united nation – as an unprecedented consolidation of power, posing an existential threat to their hegemony. The previous threat under Saul was less comprehensive as Israel was less united.
• all the Philistines went up (עָלָה - `alah) to search for David (לְבַקֵּשׁ - l'vakesh): "Went up" implies a movement from their lower coastal regions into the higher central highlands where David was. This was an offensive, predatory move. "To search for David" shows specific intent to eliminate the new head of Israel, not just random raiding. They targeted the strategic point of unified Israel: its leader. This proactive approach by the Philistines reveals their recognition of David as a singularly dangerous foe due to his past exploits (Goliath, multiple victories).
• and David heard (שָׁמַע - shama') of it: David was not oblivious or unprepared. He had an intelligence network or divine insight. This highlights his alert leadership.
• and went out (יָצָא - yatsa') against them: David's immediate and decisive response. He did not cower or wait to be attacked but moved to confront them. This pre-emptive engagement often marked David's military strategy, reflecting his confidence and trust in God rather than waiting defensively.

1 Chronicles 14 8 Bonus section

• This specific incident (Philistine invasion upon David's anointing) is a common pattern in the Bible: divine blessing and advancement of God's people often immediately precede or are met with intense opposition. This applies from the Exodus (Pharaoh's hardened heart) to Nehemiah (Sanballat's opposition) and even in the New Testament (opposition to Jesus and the early Church).
• The narrative serves as a model for how believers and leaders should react to opposition. Instead of retreating or being overwhelmed, David acts decisively and, crucially (as shown in the following verses), seeks divine guidance. This illustrates a practical theological principle: recognize the opposition, and respond with faith and dependence on God.
• The Philistines' reaction validates David's anointing. Their fear and immediate hostile response confirm that David's rise was indeed significant and divinely empowered, a force to be reckoned with. God was actively establishing His kingdom through David.

1 Chronicles 14 8 Commentary

1 Chronicles 14:8 highlights the spiritual and political reality of David's newly solidified kingship. The Philistines, embodying the adversarial forces to God's people, react with swift and unified hostility upon perceiving God's hand in David's ascendancy. Their intention to "search for David" indicates their strategic aim to decapitate Israel's unified power at its source—the divinely anointed king. This reflects the age-old conflict between those who oppose God's plans and His chosen instruments. David's response, though seemingly bold, is presented in Chronicles not as mere military prowess, but as a direct action underpinned by his unwavering faith and later by explicit divine counsel (referenced in subsequent verses). The verse encapsulates the essential truth that the advancement of God's kingdom often provokes intense opposition, yet God equips His chosen leaders to confront and overcome such challenges. It implicitly contrasts the panic-driven Philistine aggression with David's calm, decisive, and divinely guided action.