David had two military encounters with the Philistines and was victorious in both (1 Chronicles 14:8–16). The news of David’s being anointed as king over all Israel
(1 Chronicles 14:8) prompts a Philistine invasion of Judah. David had been no real threat to the Philistines while Israel and Judah remained divided, but a united Israel was a different situation altogether. The attack on Judah was presumably an attempt to dethrone him and to pre-empt their former vassal from consolidating power among God’s people.1
This first battle probably took place soon after the anointing ceremony at Hebron and therefore probably before David’s capture of Jerusalem.2 It is quite possible that this first conflict was a fairly minor border raid.3 The battle took place in the Valley of Rephaim (1 Chronicles 14:9), a border region between the tribes of Benjamin and Judah, immediately southwest of Jerusalem near Bethlehem (Joshua 15:8). This incident is linked to the events of 1 Chronicles 11:15–20 when David was still headquartered at the cave of Adullam and the Philistines garrisoned at Bethlehem (see also 2 Samuel 23:13–14).
Unlike his predecessor Saul, who inquired of the witch at Endor (1 Samuel 28:7), David inquired of the Lord: Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?
(1 Chronicles 14:10). The contrast is made plain between the scrupulous faithfulness of David and the catastrophic faithlessness of Saul.4 Guidance was probably obtained by means of the Urim and Thummim associated with the ephod, and God subsequently assured him of victory.
It is at this point, in 1 Chronicles 14:11, where the Philistine wars tie in with the preceding ark narrative by use of the verb break out
(see 1 Chronicles 13:2, 1 Chronicles 13:11). Previously the Lord broke out
against Uzzah for his profaning of the ark. He now breaks out against the Philistines to bless David, thus revealing God’s active involvement in both events. By means of this device the Chronicler places the Philistine wars in context, thus indicating that David’s victory is a sign of divine blessing and favour in preparation for the transport of the ark to Jerusalem.5 The holiness of God breaks against sin, but the grace of God breaks out for the sake of his people against their enemies.
6
The place where David defeated the enemy became known as Baal-perazim (the Lord of breaking-through
or master of breaches
). The name Baal, meaning lord
or master,
is applied here to Yahweh, not to the Canaanite or Phoenician god.7 David unashamedly acknowledges the Lord as the true victor. He says, God has broken through my enemies
while at the same time recognizing human agency by my hand.
8 While there is clear affirmation that the victory was due to God, here is endorsement of David’s active role as God’s instrument.9 This first victory is understood as a divine breakthrough comparable with an irresistible onrush of water (1 Chronicles 5:11), perhaps having in mind heavy rainfall in hilly country or the breaking of a clay vessel full of water.10
Earlier, the Israelites lost the ark of the covenant to the Philistines in the battle of Shiloh (1 Samuel 4:11). Here at Rephaim the Philistines abandon their gods on the battlefield, symbolic of the impotence of their idols before Yahweh, the true God (1 Chronicles 14:12). Rather than plunder the idols and parade them as trophies of war, David burns the relics of false worship in accordance with the law of Moses (Deuteronomy 7:5; Deuteronomy 12:3), once again highlighting his faithfulness to his God.11 By this victory, David wiped out the old disgrace of Israel, which rested on the people since Eli’s time. As then Israel lost the ark, 1 Samuel 4:11, so now the sacred things of the Philistines fell into the hands of the Israelites.
12
David did as God commanded
and proved faithful in burning the carved images by fire, unlike Saul who acted unfaithfully
in that he did not keep the word of the Lord. (1 Chronicles 10:13). Herein lies the fundamental difference between David and Saul: David did as God commanded him. The Lord through Samuel commanded Saul to destroy every living thing in Amalek, including the women, children, and all livestock. Instead, he spared Agag the king to keep the best of the spoils of war for himself (1 Samuel 15:9). Samuel confronted him head-on in Gilgal for this blatant disobedience, but Saul reasoned that the animals could be used in sacrifices to the Lord (1 Chronicles 14:15). Samuel roundly condemned Saul’s action with the well-known words in 1 Samuel 15:22: Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
Saul and those under his leadership had disobeyed the Lord’s command: they took the best of the things devoted to destruction
(1 Samuel 15:21). But Samuel, God’s unyielding spokesman, could not for one moment tolerate God’s primary political and military representative to get away with only partial or even substantial obedience. In fact, partial obedience amounts to full-out disobedience. Saul’s sin became Achan’s sin, who broke faith in the matter of the devoted thing
(1 Chronicles 2:7). Achan and his family died for his sin; Saul’s sin would bring him misery and death and would cause his family’s loss of kingship.13
8 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.