1 Chronicles 14:14

Therefore David R.V. And David.

Go not up R.V. Thou shalt not go up.

Go not up after them In 2 Samuel 5:23 the words after themare connected with the following verb: Thou shalt not go up: make a circuit behind them. In Samuel the command is to assail the rear of the enemy, in Chronicles to avoid the rear (which was perhaps protected by a rearguard) and to attack (presumably) the flank. The reading in Chronicles is to be preferred as a harder reading, which yields good sense on examination.

from them The Heb. word suggests that David occupied a commanding position from which he would be tempted to attack.

over against the balsam trees Render, along, parallel to. The line of David's attack is to be parallel to a line of balsam trees (or to a ridge on which balsam trees stood) situate probably at right angles to the line of the Philistine march. Thus David's advance would be concealed from the Philistines until the very moment of the attack, which would fall on the flank of the Philistine march.

mulberry trees R.V. mg. balsam trees. Some kind of tree or shrub from which gum exudes seems to be meant.