And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.
1 Chronicles 14:13 stands in the record of the prosperous years of David's reign, as given in the history centered on the kingdom of Judah that parallels the last part of Samuel. The Philistines came yet again and spread themselves abroad in the valley to oppose David. Their renewed advance led David to inquire of the Lord whether he should go out against them.
God told him not to go up directly after them but to turn away and come upon them opposite the mulberry trees, and to go out to battle when he heard a sound of movement in the tops of the mulberry trees. That signal meant that God had gone forth before him to smite the host of the Philistines, with His heavenly host going before and surrounding him, showing that angels worked with him in the conflict. David did as God commanded him and smote the host of the Philistines.
1 Chronicles 14:13 stands in the record of the prosperous years of David's reign, as given in the history centered on the kingdom of Judah that parallels the last part of Samuel. The Philistines came yet again and spread themselves abroad in the valley to oppose David. Their renewed advance led David to inquire of the Lord whether he should go out against them.
God told him not to go up directly after them but to turn away and come upon them opposite the mulberry trees, and to go out to battle when he heard a sound of movement in the tops of the mulberry trees. That signal meant that God had gone forth before him to smite the host of the Philistines, with His heavenly host going before and surrounding him, showing that angels worked with him in the conflict. David did as God commanded him and smote the host of the Philistines.