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1 Chronicles 14:15

14:14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

KJV

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When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then go out to battle; for God has gone out before you to strike the army of the Philistines.”

And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

And it shall be, when you shall hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then you shall go out to battle: for God is gone forth before you to smite the host of the Philistines.

14:16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer.

What does 1 Chronicles 14:15 mean?

1 Chronicles 14:15 is a verse in the book of 1 Chronicles, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ), קוֹל (qôwl), צְעָדָה (tsᵉʻâdâh). It connects to 9 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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And
it
shall
be,
when
thou
shalt
hearשָׁמַעshâmaʻ/shaw-mah'/H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
a
soundקוֹלqôwl/kole/H6963a voice or sound
of
goingצְעָדָהtsᵉʻâdâh/tseh-aw-daw'/H6807a march; (concretely) an (ornamental) ankle-chain
in
the
topsרֹאשׁrôʼsh/roshe/H7218the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
of
the
mulberry
trees,בָּכָאbâkâʼ/baw-kaw'/H1057the weeping tree (some gum-distilling tree, perhaps the balsam)
that
then
thou
shalt
go
outיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
to
battle:מִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh/mil-khaw-maw'/H4421a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)
for
Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
is
gone
forthיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
beforeפָּנִיםpânîym/paw-neem'/H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
thee
to
smiteנָכָהnâkâh/naw-kaw'/H5221to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
the
hostמַחֲנֶהmachăneh/makh-an-eh'/H4264an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or even the sacred courts)
of
the
Philistines.פְּלִשְׁתִּיPᵉlishtîy/pel-ish-tee'/H6430a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 14:15

CLARKE · whole chapter
nds artificers and materials to David, to build him a house, 1Chr 14:1 , 1Chr 14:2 . David's wives and children, 1Chr 14:3-7 . He defeats the Philistines in two battles: one in the valley of Rephaim, 1Chr 14:8-12 ; and the other at Gibeon and Gazer, 1Chr 14:13-16 . His fame goes out into all the surrounding nations, 1Chr 14:17 . Verse 1 Now Hiram king of Tyre - See the transactions of this chapter related 2Sam 5:11-25 (note). Verse 4 These are the names of his children - In 2Sam 5:14-16 (note), eleven persons only are mentioned in the Hebrew text, but the Septuagint has twenty-four, here there are thirteen, and all the versions have the same number, with certain varieties in the names. - See the notes there. Verse 8 The Philistines went up to seek David - See on 2Sam 5:17 (note). Verse 10 David inquired of God - "David consulted the Word of the Lord." - T. Verse 11 Like the breaking forth of waters - "And David said, The Lord hath broken the enemies of David like to the breaking of a potter's vessel full of water." - T. Verse 15 A sound of going - "When thou shalt hear the sound of the angels coming to thy assistance, then go out to battle; for an angel is sent from the presence of God, that he may render thy way prosperous." - T. Verse 17 Into all lands - That is, all the surrounding or neighboring lands and nations, for no others can possibly be intended. Introduction
HENRY_FULL · 1 Chronicles 14:8–17
The Defeat of the Philistines. ( b. c. 1045.) 8 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. 9 And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 10 And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand. 11 So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. 12 And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire. 13 And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley. 14 Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 15 And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines. 16 David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gazer. 17 And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations. This narrative of David's triumph over the Philistines is much the same with that, 2 Sam. v. 17 , &c. 1. Let the attack which the Philistines made upon David forbid us to be secure in any settlement or advancement, and engage us to expect molestation in this world. When we are most easy something or other may come to be a terror or vexation to us. Christ's kingdom will thus be insulted by the serpent's seed, especially when it makes any advances. 2. Let David's enquiry of God, once and again, upon occasion of the Philistines' invading him, direct us in all our ways to acknowledge God—in distress to fly to him, when we are wronged to appeal to him, and, when we know not what to do, to ask counsel at his oracles, to put ourselves under his direction, and to beg of him to show us the right way. 3. Let David's success encourage us to resist our spiritual enemies, in observance of divine directions and dependence on divine strength. Resist the devil, and he shall flee as the Philistines did before David. 4. Let the sound of the going in the tops of the mulberry trees direct us to attend God's motions both in his providence and in the influences of his Spirit. When we perceive God to go before us let us gird up our loins, gird on our armour, and follow him. 5. Let David's burning the gods of the Philistines, when they fell into his hands, teach us a holy indignation against idolatry and all the remains of it. 6. Let David's thankful acknowledgment of the hand of God in his successes direct us to bring all our sacrifices of praise to God's altar. Not unto us, O Lord! not unto us, but to thy name give glory. 7. Let the reputation which David obtained, not only in his kingdom, but among his neighbours, be looked upon as a type and figure of the exalted honour of the Son of David ( v. 17 ): The fame of David went out into all lands; he was generally talked of, and admired by all people, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations. All looked upon him as a formidable enemy and a desirable ally. Thus has God highly exalted our Redeemer, and given him a name above every name.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Joshua 9:21

And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.

Ezra 2:43

The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

Ezra 2:58

All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

Ezra 2:70

So the priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.

Ezra 8:20

Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.

Nehemiah 7:60

All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

Nehemiah 7:73

So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Nehemiah 11:3

Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

Nehemiah 11:21

But the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gispa were over the Nethinims. Ophel: or, the tower

Topics

Philistines

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Chronicles 14:15.

2 Samuel 5:24

And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:24

And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis 14:8

And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

Genesis 16:2

And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. obtain: Heb. be built by her

Genesis 2:10

And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

Genesis 21:12

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Genesis 21:17

And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Chronicles 14:15 say?

1 Chronicles 14:15 (King James Version) reads: "And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines."

Is 1 Chronicles 14:15 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Chronicles 14:15 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Chronicles.

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