Gill, in his commentary, gives us a useful summary of this chapter.
‘This chapter gives an account of the message of Hiram king of Tyre to David, and of David’s taking him more wives, with the names of his children by them and of two battles he fought with the Philistines, in which he had the victory over them, the same is recorded in 2 Samuel 5:11. The chapter is concluded by observing, that the fame of David, on account of his victories, was spread in all countries, and they were struck with a panic from the Lord and were in dread of him.’
There were two people named Hiram who worked in building the temple. This Hiram was the king of Tyre, 1 Chronicles 14:1 / 2 Samuel 5:11-25, and the other Hiram was in charge of building the temple, 1 Chronicles 3:5-8.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘When we compare 2 Samuel 5:11-25, the only important variations from which are in 1 Chronicles 14:4-7, the list of the sons of David, 1 Chronicles 3:1, and in 1 Chronicles 14:12, where the fact is added that the idols taken from the Philistines were burned.’
David was well aware that God wanted him to be king over Israel and he was well aware that God was blessing him for His people’s sake, 1 Chronicles 14:2. Notice David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters, 1 Chronicles 14:3, which was total disobedience to God’s commands, Deuteronomy 17:17. We also know that David took more concubines when he lived in Jerusalem, 2 Samuel 5:13.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In spite of the fact that David’s notorious sins against Bathsheba and Uriah are not mentioned here, there is no effort whatever to conceal his multiplying unto himself wives and concubines specifically contrary to the Law of God.’
Solomon, who was to become the future king of Israel is first introduced here as the fourth son of David, 1 Chronicles 14:4. He was one of the thirteen children who were born to David while he lived in Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 14:4-7 / 1 Chronicles 3:5-8.
The Philistines, whom David had formerly correlated with while fleeing from Saul, gathered together against him when they heard that he was anointed king over Israel, 1 Chronicles 14:8. In this case, this was a pre-emptive attack against David, 1 Chronicles 14:9 / 2 Samuel 5:17-25. They must have thought before David could assemble an army, they could easily defeat him, but this wasn’t the case.
Notice David was wise enough to inquire of God before entering the battle, and God tells him to go ahead with the battle, 1 Chronicles 14:10. After, he does as God commands and wins the victory, 1 Chronicles 14:11.
This defeat of the Philistines at Baal-Perazim was like waters which broke out from a dam, 1 Chronicles 14:11 / 1 Chronicles 13:9-12, and this was the beginning of David’s victories over the Philistines that would eventually lead to their total subjugation by the end of the reign. The place was called Baal Perazim, 1 Chronicles 14:11. The Philistines abandoned their gods and David gave orders to burn them in the fire, 1 Chronicles 14:12.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning the gods that were left.
‘The practice of carrying images of the gods to battle was common among the nations of antiquity and arose from the belief that there was virtue in the images themselves, and that military success would be obtained by means of them.’
The Philistines now come and raid the valley and notice the first thing David did here, he again inquired of God, before heading into the battle, 1 Chronicles 14:13-14. God then tells him how to go about winning this battle by attacking them from behind, 1 Chronicles 14:14-15.
They were to wait until they heard ‘the sound of marching’, 1 Chronicles 14:15. It appears that they were to hide, until God made the sound of rustling leaves in the canopies of the poplar trees, 1 Chronicles 14:14 / 2 Samuel 5:24.
After defeating the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 14:16, David’s fame spread and the nations around feared him, 1 Chronicles 14:17, because they didn’t want the same happening to them. David achieved what Saul failed to do, that is, bring all the Promised Land under the control of the Israelites.
Payne, in his commentary, says the following, concerning David.
‘Because he looked to the Lord for his strength and his strategy, he was able to beat back to Philistine offences, to secure the independence of God’s people, and to terminate forever the threat of Philistine conquest and oppression.’