Battles of Baal-perazim and the Valley of Rephaim

Twice the Philistines invaded the valley of Rephaim, and twice David asked God what to do. The second time, God told him to wait for the sound of marching in the treetops.

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they came up in force and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. David asked the LORD whether he should attack, and God promised victory. David struck them at a place he named Baal-perazim, saying, 'The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters.' The Philistines fled, leaving their idols behind, and David's men burned them. When the Philistines returned, David enquired again, and this time God gave different orders: circle behind them and wait by the mulberry trees. When David heard the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, the LORD would be going out before him. David obeyed and struck the Philistines from Geba to Gazer.

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Details

Era: United Kingdom
Category: United Kingdom
Participants: Israel (David) vs. Philistia
Outcome: Philistines defeated twice, from Geba to Gazer
Divine Intervention: Yes

Key Chapters

2 Samuel 5 David King Over All Israel 4 min read David asks God before he fights, and the LORD breaks through his enemies like a ...

Key Passages

The LORD Hath Broken Forth

2 Samuel 5:17-21

David asks God before he fights, and the LORD breaks through his enemies like a flood breaking through a dam.

B¹⁷ut when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

¹⁸ The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹ And David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the LORD said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. ²⁰ And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The LORD hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. ²¹ And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

A Sound in the Mulberry Trees

2 Samuel 5:22-25

Facing the same enemy in the same valley, David asks God again and receives a completely different battle plan.

A²²nd the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

²³ And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. ²⁴ And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. ²⁵ And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.