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David's Victories over the Philistines
This page compares how 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles describe David seeking God in two battles against the Philistines.
Both accounts begin when the Philistines hear that David has been anointed king over Israel. They come into the valley of Rephaim, and David asks God whether to attack. God tells him to go, and David defeats them at Baal Perazim. David says God has broken through his enemies like bursting water, which explains the place name. Afterward the Philistines leave their images behind. Then they return, and David asks God again.
This time he is told not to attack in the same way, but to circle around near the mulberry trees and wait for the sound of marching in the treetops. That sound is the sign to move, because God has gone out before him. David obeys, and the Philistines are struck again. Chronicles adds that David’s fame spread into all lands and that Yahweh put fear of him on the nations.
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A children’s retelling of 2 Samuel 5:17–25; 1 Chronicles 14:8–17. You can read the Bible passage together too.
The accounts are very similar, but a few details differ. 2 Samuel says David went down to the stronghold, while 1 Chronicles says he went out against the Philistines. 2 Samuel says David and his men took away the Philistine images, while 1 Chronicles says David ordered them burned. 2 Samuel says the final strike went from Geba to Gezer, while 1 Chronicles says from Gibeon to Gezer. Chronicles also adds that David’s fame spread through all lands.
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Source: World English Bible Classic, a public domain translation. This page is a retelling, rather than a word-for-word Bible text.
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David's Victories over the Philistines →