1 Chronicles: A Commentary

14 1/ 31 8/ 13/ Translation Hiram1the king of Tyre sent ambassadors to David and cedar wood, and masons and carpenters2in order to build a palace for him. 2/ Then David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was exceedingly exalted3on account of his people Israel. David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David became the father of more4sons and daughters. 4/ These are the names of those who were born5to him in Jerusalem: Shammua ,6 Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5/lbhar, Elishua/ Eliphelet,86/ Nogah,9Nepheg, Japhia, 7/ Elishama, Beeliada,10 and Eliphelet. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed11 king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up in search of David. When David heard that, he went out against them. 9/ The Philistines came and made raids12 in the Valley of Rephaim. 10/ David made an inquiry of God, "Shall I go up against the Philistines, and will you give them into my hand?" Yahweh responded to him, "Go up and I will give them1 3into your hand." 11/ They attacked14 at Baal-perazim, and David smote them there. David said,1 5 "God has burst out against my enemies by my hand like a smiting against water." Therefore they call the name of that place Baalperazim . 12/ They left their gods16 there, and David commanded that they should be burned with fireY Once more the Philistines18 made a raid1 9in the valley.20 14/ And David again inquired of God, and God said to him,21"You shall not go up behind them. Circle around them22 and attack them in front of the balsam trees.23 15/ When you hear the sound of marching in the top of the balsam trees, then you go out to battle,24 for Yahweh has gone out before you to smite the camp of the Philistines." 16/ David did25just as Yahweh commanded him. He smote26 the camp of the Philistines from Gibeon27 to Gezer.28 17/ The reputation of David went out in all the lands, and Yahweh put the fear of him on all nations. 14:1-17 Hiram's Support; David's Wives and Children; Defeat of Philistines Cli'n K; Q Cli1n "Huram."' In 2 Chr 2:2, 10-11; 4:16; 8:2, 18; 9:21 the name is spelled Huram. This alternate spelling will be discussed at 2 Chr 2:2. In readings discussed in textual notes 2-4, 9-13, 15-17, 19, 21-22, 24-25, 27-28, Chronicles presupposes a text of Samuel other than MT. 2 Cl'::>.!l 'IZhm i'P 'lliim. The Chronicler reverses the order of the craftsmen found in the Vorlage at 2 Sam 5:11. For "masons" 4QSam" has i 'P 'lliim (as in Chronicles), while Samuel LXXil presupposes (Ci')PK 'lliim. These synonymous readings for "masons" have been conflated in Samuel MT and Samuel LXXL i'P p K 'lliim. For "carpenters" Samuel MT Y.!l 'lliim, but Samuel LXX presupposes CJ'::>.!l 'lliim, as in Chronicles. 3 nKIIil (niphal fem. sg. participle according to BDB, 671; and HALOT 2:726); cf. 2 Sam 5:12 LXX and LXXL Samuel MT Kllil (pie! perfect). 4 11.!l 1'11; cf. 2 Sam 5:13 4QSam", Samuel LXX8 , and other versions. Samuel MT 1'11? 11.!l. 5 C1'11?~;:r; 2 Sam 5:14 D'i"i';:r; 1 Chr 3:5 n?1l. 6 .!l11:illi; cf. 2 Sam 5:14. Chronicles LXX and 1 Chr 3:5 K.!l1:illi. 7 .!l111i''?K1; cf. 2 Sam 5:15. 1 Chr 3:6 .!l1:illi''?K1 "Elishama." This is probably an assimilation to the same name later in the list (14:7/ / 3:8//2 Sam 5:16). 8 ~?!l''IK1 with many Hebrew MSS, the versions, and 1 Chr 3:6. The name in 14:5 MT lacks the internal y6d. 9 Eliphelet and Nogah are also attested in 2 Sam 5:15 LXX and LXXL (but not in 2 Sam 5:15 MT) and in the parallel list of David's children at 1 Chr 3:6-7. Space considerations suggest they were present in 2 Sam 5:15 4QSama. McCarter, II Samuel, 148, suggests that a scribe omitted by haplography the four original names between Elishua and the final Eliphelet (Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, and Beeliada), and that a corrector reinserted the last five names, leading to the repetition of Eliphelet. Nogah may be a corrupt...