Our Father Establishes David's House
Hiram builds David a palace, his family grows, and the Philistines come hunting the newly anointed king. Twice David asks our Father first; twice he is answered, and told the second time to wait for the sound of marching in the treetops.
14 1Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar logs, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house. 2David knew our Father had made him king over Israel, for his kingdom was raised high for the sake of his people Israel.
3And David took more wives in Jerusalem, and he fathered more sons and daughters. 4These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon, 5Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.
Our Father Breaks Through the Philistines
8When the Philistines heard David was anointed king over all Israel, all of them went up seeking David. David heard and went out to face them. 9Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.
10David asked our Father, "Will I go up against the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" So our Father told him, "Go up, and I will hand them over to you."
11They went up to Baal-perazim; David struck them there. David said, "Our Father broke through my enemies by my hand like a breaking flood." So they named that place Baal-perazim. a a v11 Baal-perazim means "the Lord who bursts through." 12And the Philistines abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders, and they were burned.
13Once more the Philistines raided the valley.
14David asked our Father again, and our Father said, "Don't go up after them. Circle around them and come at them from opposite the balsam trees. 15When you hear marching sound in the balsam treetops, then go out to battle—for your Father has gone out ahead of you to strike the Philistine troops."
16David did as our Father commanded him, and they struck the Philistine army from Gibeon to Gezer. 17And David's fame spread throughout all the lands, and our Father made all the nations dread him.