1 Chronicles 14:1

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(1) Hiram.—So the Hebrew text of Chronicles spells the name, and the LXX. and all the other ancient versions both of Samuel and Chronicles have it so. But the Hebrew margin of Chronicles writes “Huram.”

Messengers.—Ambassadors.

Timber of cedars.—Felled from the Lebanon, and sea-borne to Joppa (2 Chronicles 16).

With masons and carpenters.—Literally, and craftsmen of walls, and craftsmen of timber. 2Samuel 5:11 has “craftsmen of wood, and craftsmen of stone of wall.”

To build him an house.—Samuel, “and they built a house for David.” (2Samuel 5:11.)

House.—Palace. So the Temple was called “the house” (hab-bayith) as well as “the palace” (hēkēl; comp, the Accadian e-gal, “great house”). We may think of the numerous records of palace building which the Assyrian and Babylonian sovereigns have left us. The cedar of Lebanon (Labnânu) was a favourite material with them.

Benson Commentary

A.M. 2961. — B.C. 1043.

David is confirmed in his kingdom, 1 Chronicles 14:1, 1 Chronicles 14:2. His wives and children, 1 Chronicles 14:3-7. His victories over the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 14:8-17.

NOTES ON CHAPTER 14.

1 Chronicles 14:2. David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel — By the remembrance of God’s promise, and his providence conspiring with it. For his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel — But of this and the following verses of this chapter, see notes on 2 Samuel 5:12-25, where the same history is related.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:1-17 David's victories. - In this chapter we have an account of, 1. David's kingdom established. 2. His family built up. 3. His enemies defeated. This is repeated from 2Sa 5. Let the fame of David be looked upon as a type and figure of the exalted honour of the Son of David.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Compare 2 Samuel 5:11-25, the only important variations from which are in 1 Chronicles 14:4-7, the list of the sons of David (see 1 Chronicles 3:1 note), and in 1 Chronicles 14:12, where the fact is added that the idols taken from the Philistines were burned.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 14

1Ch 14:1, 2. Hiram's Kindness to David; David's Felicity.

1. Now Hiram king of Tyre—[See on [377]2Sa 5:11]. The alliance with this neighboring king, and the important advantages derived from it, were among the most fortunate circumstances in David's reign. The providence of God appeared concurrent with His promise in smoothing the early course of his reign. Having conquered the Jebusites and made Zion the royal residence, he had now, along with internal prosperity, established an advantageous treaty with a neighboring prince; and hence, in immediate connection with the mention of this friendly league, it is said, "David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel."Hiram’s kindness to David, 1 Chronicles 14:1. His felicity in people, wives, and children, 1 Chronicles 14:2-7. His two victories against the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 14:8-17.

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

See Chapter Introduction

Geneva Study Bible

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1. Hiram] Other forms of this name are Huram and (1 Kings 5:10; 1 Kings 5:18) Hirom.

1, 2. Hiram’s [first] Embassy to David

The dislocation of the narrative mentioned in the last note has concealed the occasion of Hiram’s embassy. The narrative of 2 Samuel 5:9-11 suggests that Hiram heard of the building works which David was carrying on at Jerusalem and so sent materials and workmen to assist. David accepted the welcome offer (which ultimately led to an alliance) as a sign of Divine favour.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 1. - The Kethiv abandons here the invariable analogy of Chronicles, and reads Hiram for "Huram," which latter form, however, is replaced in the Keri. Beside this Hiram or Huram, the king, there was another Hiram or Huram, the same king's chief artificer, and whom he sent to the help of Solomon (1 Kings 7:13, 40; 2 Chronicles 2:13; 2 Chronicles 4:11, 16). The willing aid which this king lent to David on this occasion, in supplying cedar timber and workmen, was "the commencement of that amity between the Tyriaus and the Hebrews, so mutually advantageous to the two nations, the one agricultural and the other commercial" (Milman's 'History of the Jews,' 1:239). The meaning of the name Hiram is probably "noble," or "highborn." This disposition, at all events, he seems to have illustrated in his generous friendship to David, Solomon, and their people. Very little to be relied upon is known of him outside Scripture, but his reign is said to have extended from B.C. 1023-990. 1 Chronicles 14:1

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

David's palace-building, wives and children, 1 Chronicles 14:1-7; cf. 2 Samuel 5:11-16. Two victories over the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 14:8-17; cf. 2 Samuel 5:17-25. - The position in which the narrative of these events stands, between the removal of the ark from Kirjath-jearim and its being brought to Jerusalem, is not to be supposed to indicate that they happened in the interval of three months, curing which the ark was left in the house of Obed-edom. The explanation of it rather is, that the author of our Chronicle, for the reasons given in page 170, desired to represent David's design to bring the ark into the capital city of his kingdom as his first undertaking after he had won Jerusalem, and was consequently compelled to bring in the events of our chapter at a later period, and for that purpose this interval of three months seemed to offer him the fittest opportunity. The whole contents of our chapter have already been commented upon in 2 Samuel 5:1, so that we need not here do more than refer to a few subordinate points.