וַיִּשְׁלַח חוּרָם מֶלֶךְ־צֹר מַלְאָכִים אֶל־דָּוִיד ועֲצֵי אֲרָזִים וְחָרָשֵׁי קִיר וְחָרָשֵׁי עֵצִים לִבְנוֹת לוֹ בָּיִת

Huram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, as an expression of goodwill and in order to establish positive diplomatic ties; and in addition he sent cedar trees,and masons, and carpenters, in order to build him a house. The king of Tyre volunteered to help David construct a house from expensive cedar wood, in the style of the magnificent structures to which the king of Tyre was accustomed. This substantial gesture shows that Huram considered David a great king who was worthy of respect. It was not payment of tribute in any sense; rather it was a valuable gift sent in deference to David to cultivate a close relationship between the rulers.

וַיֵּדַע דָּוִיד כִּי־הֱכִינוֹ ה' לְמֶלֶךְ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי־נִשֵּׂאת לְמַעְלָה מַלְכוּתוֹ בַּעֲבוּר עַמּוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל

David, however, did not interpret this generous gesture as a personal gift. David knew that the Lord had established him king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel. He viewed the action of the king of Tyre as a sign that the status of the kingdom of Israel was elevated among the nations. David’s kingdom was no longer a local phenomenon; the nations of the region were aware of its power and its influence. Since the kingdom of Israel was far larger than Tyre, its increased strength brought Huram to seek closer relations with Israel’s king.

וַיִּקַּח דָּוִיד עוֹד נָשִׁים בִּירוּשָׁלִָם וַיּוֹלֶד דָּוִיד עוֹד בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת

The text inserts another short genealogical list, similar to one cited earlier: (3:5–9) David took more wives in Jerusalem, in addition to those he had in Hebron, and David begot more sons and daughters.

וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת הַיְלוּדִים אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ־לוֹ בִּירוּשָׁלִָם שַׁמּוּעַ וְשׁוֹבָב נָתָן וּשְׁלֹמֹה

These are the names of the children whom he had in Jerusalem: Shamua, Shovav, Natan, and Solomon,

וְיִבְחָר וֶאֱלִישׁוּעַ וְאֶלְפָּלֶט

Yivhar, Elishua, Elpelet,

וְנֹגַהּ וְנֶפֶג וְיָפִיעַ

Noga, Nefeg, Yafia,

וֶאֱלִישָׁמָע וּבְעֶלְיָדָע וֶאֱלִיפָלֶט

Elishama, Be’elyada, and Elifelet. Elpelet and Elifelet are versions of the same name, meaning that God [El] has saved [pelet]. Similarly, the names Elishua and Elishama serve as a reminder that God [El], has heard [shama] and rescued [hoshia] David from his troubles (see commentary on 3:8).

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ פְלִשְׁתִּים כִּי־נִמְשַׁח דָּוִיד לְמֶלֶךְ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעֲלוּ כָל־פְּלִשְׁתִּים לְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת דָּוִיד וַיִּשְׁמַע דָּוִיד וַיֵּצֵא לִפְנֵיהֶם

The Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, and all the Philistines went forth to seek the life of David. They wished to make war against him and end the threat he posed to them. David heard, and he came out to meet them.

וּפְלִשְׁתִּים בָּאוּ וַיִּפְשְׁטוּ בְּעֵמֶק רְפָאִים

The Philistines came and penetrated deep into the Land of Israel, and raided in the Refaim Valley, near Jerusalem.

וַיִּשְׁאַל דָּוִיד בֵּאלֹהִים לֵאמֹר הַאֶעֱלֶה עַל־פְּלִשְׁתִּים וּנְתַתָּם בְּיָדִי וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ ה' עֲלֵה וּנְתַתִּים בְּיָדֶךָ

David inquired of God, saying: Shall I go up to war against the Philistines, and will You deliver them into my hand? The Lord said to him: Go up, and I will deliver them into your hand.

וַיַּעֲלוּ בְּבַעַל־פְּרָצִים וַיַּכֵּם שָׁם דָּוִיד וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד פָּרַץ הָאֱלֹהִים אֶת־אוֹיְבַי בְּיָדִי כְּפֶרֶץ מָיִם עַל־כֵּן קָרְאוּ שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא בַּעַל פְּרָצִים

They went up to a place called Baal Peratzim, and David smote them there. David said: God has breached [paratz] and scattered my enemies by my hand, like a burst [peretz] of water from a narrow spot in all directions, destroying all that lies in its path. The Philistines did not even attempt to fight, but fled for their lives and dispersed. Therefore they called the name of that place Baal Peratzim.

וַיַּעַזְבוּ שָׁם אֶת־אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִיד וַיִּשָּׂרְפוּ בָּאֵשׁ

As the Philistines fled the battlefield in haste, they abandoned their gods there, the idols they had taken out with them to war; David said to burn them, and they were burned in fire, as stated in the Torah.

וַיֹּסִיפוּ עוֹד פְּלִשְׁתִּים וַיִּפְשְׁטוּ בָּעֵמֶק

The Philistines continued to attack and raided in the valley.

וַיִּשְׁאַל עוֹד דָּוִיד בֵּאלֹהִים וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים לֹא תַעֲלֶה אַחֲרֵיהֶם הָסֵב מֵעֲלֵיהֶם וּבָאתָ לָהֶם מִמּוּל הַבְּכָאִים

David again inquired of God; and God said to him: You shall not go up directly after them, as you did the first time; rather, turn away from them, go around, and come to them opposite the mastic trees, or bushes; so that they do not sense your approach.

וִיהִי כְּשָׁמְעֲךָ אֶת־קוֹל הַצְּעָדָה בְּרָאשֵׁי הַבְּכָאִים אָז תֵּצֵא בַמִּלְחָמָה כִּי־יָצָא הָאֱלֹהִים לְפָנֶיךָ לְהַכּוֹת אֶת־מַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים

It shall be when you hear the unnatural sound of men marching above the tops of the mastic trees, this will be a sign for you that then you shall come out to wage war, as God has come out before you to smite the Philistine camp.

וַיַּעַשׂ דָּוִיד כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּהוּ הָאֱלֹהִים וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־מַחֲנֵה פְלִשְׁתִּים מִגִּבְעוֹן וְעַד־גָּזְרָה

David did as God commanded him, and they smote the Philistine camp from Givon to Gezer. Apparently, they pushed the Philistine army back to the Judean plain, where they smote them.

וַיֵּצֵא שֵׁם־דָּוִיד בְּכָל־הָאֲרָצוֹת וַה' נָתַן אֶת־פַּחְדּוֹ עַל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם

After the impressive victory over the Philistines, David’s renown circulated in all lands, and the Lord imposed fear of him upon all nations. David’s double routing of the Philistines enhanced his reputation and his power over all the surrounding nations.