Bible Strands
1 Chronicles 14:9
Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the Philistines' advance into the Valley of Rephaim immediately after David learns of their mobilization following his anointing as king over all Israel. This military movement sets the immediate tactical backdrop for David's subsequent inquiry to God.
The words — The text employs בָּ֑אוּ (Ba.'u) for "they had come" and וַֽ/יִּפְשְׁט֖וּ (va/i.yif.she.Tu) for "they had made a raid" to describe the hostile incursion. The location is specified as בְּ/עֵ֥מֶק (be./'E.mek) רְפָאִֽים\׃, literally "in the valley of the Rephaites."
The thread — The identical campaign appears in 2 Samuel 5:18, while 1 Chronicles 14:13 documents a second raid in the same valley. A prior Philistine encampment near David is recorded in 1 Chronicles 11:15.
Why it lands — The verse establishes the concrete threat that triggers David's direct consultation with God and His command to advance. It requires the reader to observe the narrative sequence where enemy movement precedes divine instruction and royal action.
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
And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 11:15 Three of the thirty chief men went down to David, to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
- 2 Samuel 5:18 Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.
- 1 Chronicles 14:13 Once again the Philistines raided the valley.
- 2 Samuel 23:13 At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.
- Isaiah 17:5 as the reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the ears with his arm, as one gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim.