Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 14:11
So David and his men went up to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, God has burst out against my enemies by my hand.” So they called that place Baal-perazim.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks to his men immediately after defeating the Philistines at Baal-perazim, directly following God’s command to advance in verse 10. He declares the victory as divine action executed through his agency.
The words — The site name Baal-perazim merges בַּעַל (ba'al, "lord" or "master") with פְּרָצִים (peratzim, "bursting" or "breaking out"). David applies this compound name to the location to mark God’s decisive breakthrough against the enemy.
The thread — The imagery of God’s "bursting" or "breaking out" resurfaces in Isaiah 28:21 and echoes the waters of Exodus 14:28. The same battle and declaration are recorded in 2 Samuel 5:20.
Why it lands — The text attributes military victory directly to divine intervention rather than human strategy. It requires the reader to recognize God’s active role in historical conflict and to name places or events accordingly.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 28:21 For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.
- Exodus 14:28 The waters flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had chased the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
- 2 Samuel 5:20 So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim.
- Psalms 144:10 to Him who gives victory to kings, who frees His servant David from the deadly sword.
- Matthew 7:27 The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”
- Job 30:14 They advance as through a wide breach; through the ruins they keep rolling in.
- Psalms 18:13 The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire.
- Psalms 144:1 Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
- Psalms 44:3 For it was not by their sword that they took the land; their arm did not bring them victory. It was by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them.