8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over all Yisrael, the entire Philistine army went up into the hill country to eliminate him. David got this news and took his army out to meet them. 9 Meanwhile, the Philistines went and raided the Refaim valley, 10 and David asked God, “Should I take on the Philistines, and will you give me victory over them?”

“Go ahead,” Yahweh answered, “and I’ll enable you to defeat them.”

11 Then they[fn] went up to what’s now called Baal-Peratsim, and David defeated them down there. David said, “God has used me to break through my enemies like a flooded river breaking a dam.” Therefore they named that place Baal-Peratsim (which means ‘the master bursts through’). 12 The Philistines abandoned their idols as they fled, and David ordered them to be burnt.

13 But soon the Philistines raided the valley again, 14 and David asked God’s advice again. “Don’t go uphill after them,” God said, “but circle around them and confront them in front of the balsam trees. 15 When you hear the sound of the marching in the tops of the balsam trees, that’s when you should attack, because God will have gone out ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 16 So David did just as God had told him, and he attacked the Philistines from Giveon all the way to Gezer. 17 So David’s reputation spread everywhere, and Yahweh caused the other nations to be afraid of him.