The Philistines Try to Disrupt Israel’s Unity

During the seven years Israel was split between David and Ishbosheth, the Philistine shad not viewed Israel as a particular threat.  When they unified under David and defeated the Jebusites at Jerusalem, the Philistines attacked in an attempt to prevent their becoming a threat, in II Samuel 5:17-18.  “But 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.  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.”

Knowing the Philistine army was bigger than Israel’s, David Asked Gods direction whether they could win in head to head conflict.  God directed him to confront them head on, and gave victory, in II Samuel 5:19-21.  “ And David inquired 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.

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.  And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.”

David acknowledged it was God who gave the victory, breaking out upon them like water unexpectedly washing out a dam and flooding the valley below.  The Philistines were determined to cow the Israelites, returning with a stronger force, determined not to be caught by surprise again.   When David asked how they should confront the stronger force, God advised to attack them from behind rather than letting the Philistines follow their plan, in II Samuel 5:22-25.  “And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.  And when David inquired 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.  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.  And David did so, as the LORD had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.”

Since they had won before, the Philistines expected them to try the same thing again, and were not expecting to be attacked from behind.  God sent a sound of a powerful wind through the Mulberry trees, distracting and sowing fear among the Philistines and covering the sounds of Israel’s approach until it was too late.  Caught off guard, they were unable to regroup and were forced to retreat, losing thousands in the process.   The Israelites continued to chase and harass them all the way to the Philistine border.   It would take some time for the Philistines to reorganize and try again.