14. Cp. 2 Sam. 5:11–25, the only important variations from which are in vv. 4–7, the list of the sons of David (see 3:1 note), and in v. 12, where the fact is added that the idols taken from the Philistines were burned. 12. when they had left their gods there] The practice of carrying images of the gods to battle was common among the nations of antiquity, and arose from the belief that there was virtue in the images themselves, and that military success would be obtained by means of them.