1Ch 14:8-17 | JFB | STEP | 8. all the Philistines went up to seek David-- in the hope of accomplishing his ruin (for so the phrase is used, ; , ) before his throne was consolidated. Their hostility arose, both from a belief that his patriotism would lead him, ere long, to wipe out the national dishonor at Gilboa, and by fear, that in any invasion of their country, his thorough knowledge of their weak points would give him superior advantages. They resolved, therefore, to surprise and crush him before he was fairly seated on his throne.

‏ 1 Chronicles 14:8-17

8. all the Philistines went up to seek David--in the hope of accomplishing his ruin (for so the phrase is used, 1Sa 23:15; 24:2, 3) before his throne was consolidated. Their hostility arose, both from a belief that his patriotism would lead him, ere long, to wipe out the national dishonor at Gilboa, and by fear, that in any invasion of their country, his thorough knowledge of their weak points would give him superior advantages. They resolved, therefore, to surprise and crush him before he was fairly seated on his throne.

11. they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there--In an engagement fought at Mount Perazim (Is 28:21), in the valley of Rephaim, a few miles west of Jerusalem, the Philistines were defeated and put to flight.

12. when they had left their gods--(See on 2Sa 5:21).

13. the Philistines yet again spread themselves--They renewed the campaign the next season, taking the same route. David, according to divine directions, did not confront them.

14. Go not up after them--The text in 2Sa 5:23, more correctly has, "Go not up."

turn away from them--that is, by stealing round a baca-grove, come upon their rear.

15. for God is gone forth before thee--"a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees," that is, the rustling of the leaves by a strong breeze suddenly rising, was the sign by which David was divinely apprised of the precise moment for the attack. The impetuosity of his onset was like the gush of a pent-up torrent, which sweeps away all in its course; and in allusion to this incident the place got its name.

16. from Gibeon ... to Gazer--Geba or Gibea (2Sa 5:25), now Yefa, in the province of Judah. The line from this to Gazer was intersected by the roads which led from Judah to the cities of the Philistines. To recover possession of it, therefore, as was effected by this decisive battle, was equivalent to setting free the whole mountain region of Judah as far as their most westerly slope [Bertheau].