1 chronicles 13 and 14

Read 1 Chronicles 13 and 14 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

1 Chr 13:1-14 {s} David sought to bring the ark to Jerusalem, but the death of Uzziah made him fear
1 Chr 14:1-2 {s} Hiram built David a palace in Jerusalem/ YHVH established David’s kingdom for Israel’s sake
1 Chr 14:3-7 {p} The sons of David born to him in Jerusalem
1 Chr 14:8-12 {p} David defeats the Philistines at Baal Perazim, and destroys their idols
1 Chr 14:13-17 {p} David defeats the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer/ his fame + fear spread abroad

The strong themes:

1 Chr 13:1-14:7 {s+s+p} David feared YHVH/ He established his kingdom for Israel’s sake + built his house
1 Chr 14:8-12 {p} David defeated the Philistines at Baal Perazim, and destroyed their idols
1 Chr 14:13-17 {p} David defeated the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer/ his fame + fear spread abroad

These two chapters form a chiastic structure:

1a) 1 Chr 13:1-14 {s} The death of Uzza caused YHVH’s fame + fear to go out;

1) 1 Chr 13:1-11, The death of Uzza when the commandment re: the ark was discarded;
2) 1 Chr 13:12-14 {s} The fame of YHVH went out + David feared Him;

1b) 1 Chr 14:1-2 {s} Hiram built David a house in Jerusalem;

central axis) 1 Chr 14:2 {s} David knew that YHVH had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted for the sake of His people Israel;

2b) 1 Chr 14:3-7 {p} The sons of David born to him in Jerusalem (YHVH built David’s house in Jerusalem);

2a) 1 Chr 14:8-17 {p+p} The death of the Philistines caused David’s fame + fear to go out;

1) 1 Chr 14:8-16, David defeated the Philistines at Baal Perazim + from Gibeon to Gezer + destroyed their idols;
2) 1 Chr 14:17 {p} The fame of David went out + YHVH brought the fear of him upon all nations.

The chiastic structure clearly highlights the reciprocity in the relationship between David and YHVH. As David feared YHVH, so YHVH established him and caused the fear of him to go out to all the nations. David’s life is prophetic of Messiah Yeshua, David’s Root and Branch!