2 Samuel 8

2Sa 8:1 And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

And after this it came to pass - After David had rest from his enemies for a time, and after the conversation he had had with Nathan about building the house of God, and after the message sent to him from the Lord by that prophet, forbidding him to build, and David's prayer to the Lord upon it, the following events happened; and which are recorded to show that David's rest from his enemies did not last long, and that he had other work to do than to build the house of God:

that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them - these had been long and implacable enemies of Israel; Samson began to weaken them in his days; a war was waged between them and Israel in the times of Samuel and Saul, and the battle sometimes went on one side and sometimes on the other; but now David made an entire conquest of them: before they had used to come into the land of Israel, and there fight with Israel, but now David entered into their land, and took it from them:

David took Metheg-ammah - Metheg-ammah must be the name of some stronghold which commanded Gath , and the taking of which made David master of Gath and her towns.

David took Metheg-ammah - This is variously translated. David removed the bondage of the tribute, which the Israelites paid to the Philistines. Some think it means a fortress, city, or strong town; but no such place as Metheg-ammah is known.

David took Metheg-ammah - the name of a province in Palestine , and from the parallel place in 1Ch_18:1 And it happened after this, David struck the Philistines and humbled them. And he took Gath and its towns out of the hand of the Philistines it appears to be Gath, and its adjacent towns; but why that was called the bridle of Ammah, or the bridle of a cubit, as it may be rendered, is not easy to say. It appears that Gath was built upon an hill called Ammah, 2Sa_2:24 And Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. And the sun went down when they had come to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon; and that it was called Metheg, a bridle, because being a frontier city, and being very strong and powerful, erected into a kingdom, it was a curb and bridle upon the Israelites; but now David taking it out of their hands, opened his way for the more easy subduing the rest of their country: or the word may be rendered Metheg and her mother, that is, Gath, the metropolis, since that and her daughters, or towns, are said to be taken, 1Ch_18:1; and Metheg might be one of them.

David took Metheg-ammah - The simple meaning of the passage is, that David wrested from the Philistines the power which the capital had possessed over the towns dependent upon it, over the whole of the land of Philistia ; in other words, he brought the capital ( Gath ) and the other towns of Philistia into his own power.

2Sa 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

David took great numbers of the Moabites prisoners of war, and made them lie down on the ground, and then divided them by a measuring line into three parts, putting two-thirds to death, and saving alive one-third. The cause of the war with the Moabites, who had been very friendly with David 1Sa_22:3-4, and of this severe treatment, is not known. But it seems possible, from the tone of Psa_60:1-12 that David had met with some temporary reverse in his Syrian wars, and that the Moabites and Edomites had treacherously taken advantage of it, and perhaps tried to cut off his retreat.

And measured them with a line even with two lines - There are various opinions on this verse. It has been generally conjectured that David, after he had conquered Moab , consigned two-thirds of the inhabitants to the sword. The first clause of the verse seems to determine the sense; he measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground - to put to death, and with one line to keep alive. Death seems here to be referred to the cities by way of metaphor; and, from this view of the subject it can be concluded that two-thirds of the cities, that is, the strong places of Moab, were erased; and not having strong places to trust to, the text adds, So the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts, were obliged to pay tribute. The word line may mean the same here as our rod, i.e., the instrument by which land is measured.

And he smote Moab - He next went against that, and invaded it, the people of it being always troublesome and distressing to the children of Israel; and though the king of it had shown some favor to David, yet it was when he considered him as an enemy to Saul, and Saul to him; but things having taken a different turn, his and his people's enmity against David and his people appeared; wherefore he went and fought them, and made them his subjects, whereby was fulfilled the prophecy of Balaam, Num_24:17 I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. and shall strike the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult as it referred to David:

and brought gifts - paid a yearly tribute to King David, as they afterwards did to Solomon and to Rehoboam, until the revolt of the ten tribes, and then they paid it unto the kings of Israel .

measured them with a line — This refers to a well-known practice of Eastern kings, to command their prisoners of war, particularly those who, notorious for the atrocity of their crimes or distinguished by the indomitable spirit of their resistance, had greatly incensed the victors, to lie down on the ground. Then a certain portion of them, which was determined by lot, but most commonly by a measuring-line, were put to death.

2Sa 8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

Hadadezer - He is supposed to have been king of all Syria , except Phoenicia ; being attacked by David, he was totally routed. Hadad was the chief idol, or sun-god, of the Syrians.

as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates — in accordance with the promises God made to Israel that He would give them all the country as far as the Euphrates (Gen_15:18; Num_24:17). David, remembering the grant which God had made to his people of all the land as far as Euphrates, and having subdued his neighboring enemies, went to recover his rights, and establish his dominion as far as Euphrates.

2Sa 8:4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.

Seven hundred horsemen - Or, seven hundred companies of horsemen, that is, in all seven thousand; as it is 1Ch_18:4, there being ten in each company, and each ten having a ruler or captain.

Seven hundred horsemen - It should be seven thousand, as in 1Ch_18:4 And David took from him a thousand chariots and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. David also hamstrung all the chariot horses , but kept from them a hundred chariots.

Seven hundred horsemen - As 1Ch_18:4 seven hundred. In the parallel place in Chronicles it is "seven thousand horsemen, a far more probable number. The letter ז, zayin, with a dot upon it stands for seven thousand, and the final letter ן, noon , for seven hundred. The great similarity of these letters might easily cause the one to be mistaken for the other, and so produce a copyist error in this place.

A thousand chariots - It is strange that there were a thousand chariots, and only seven hundred horsemen taken, and twenty thousand foot. But as the discomfiture appears complete, we may suppose that the chariots, being less manageable, might be more easily taken, while the horsemen might, in general, make their escape. The infantry also seem to have been surrounded, when twenty thousand of them were taken prisoners.

A thousand chariots - "Chariots" are not in the text here, it is only 1700 "horsemen"; but it is supplied from 1Ch_18:4; where the word is expressly mentioned, and there the horsemen are said to be seven thousand; which may be reconciled by observing that here the chief officers are meant, there all the chariots and horsemen that were under their command are mentioned, which together made up that large number; or else here are meant the ranks and companies of horse David took, which were seven hundred; and these having ten in a company or rank, made seven thousand; and there the complement of soldiers in those companies and ranks are intended:

David houghed all the chariot horses - or hamstrung them, as Joshua was ordered to do with respect to the Canaanites, Jos_11:6 And the LORD said to Joshua, Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them up, all killed before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire he did not kill them, which might seem cruel and unmerciful to the brute creatures, but hamstrung them, that they might be useless for war; and the reason of it was, that horses might not be multiplied in Israel for that purpose, that so their trust and confidence might not be placed in them; Deu_17:16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, so as to multiply horses, because the LORD has said to you, You shall return no more that way from now on. The horses were thus mutilated because they were forbidden to the Hebrews, both in war and agriculture. So it was of no use to keep them. Besides, their neighbors placed much dependence on cavalry, but having, for want of a native breed, to procure them by purchase, the greatest damage that could be done to such enemies was to render their horses unserviceable in war.

2Sa 8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

Syrians of Damascus - The Syrians, whose capital was Damascus , were the best known and most powerful. Damascus is first mentioned in Gen_15:2. According to Nicolaus of Damascus, cited by Josephus, the Syrian king’s name was Hadad.

2Sa 8:6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

Brought gifts - Rather, tribute; meaning they became subject and tributary or paid him tribute by way of homage, acknowledging themselves his subjects.

2Sa 8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

David took the shields of gold - We know not what these were. Some translate arms, others quivers, others bracelets, others collars, and others shields. They were probably costly ornaments by which the Syrian soldiers were decked and distinguished.

brought them to Jerusalem - where they were laid up; Son_4:4 Your neck is like the tower of David built for an armory, on which there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men. 2Sa_8:11 King David also dedicated them to the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated from all nations which he subdued: David dedicated to the Lord all the gold and silver that he had taken, put it in the treasury of the sanctuary to be reserved for the future temple, and that at the end of his reign he handed over to his son and successor Solomon all the gold, silver, iron, and brass that he had collected for the purpose, to be applied to the building of the temple (1Ch_22:14., 1Ch_29:2.).

On the servants - And those who are called servants here, were probably the choice troops or body-guard of Hadadezer.

2Sa 8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

Betah and Berothai - These names have not been identified with certainty. Which, in 1Ch_18:8, are called Tibhath and Chun.

Exceeding much brass - whereby he was furnished and able to give the large quantity he did for the service of the temple, 1Ch_29:7. The Septuagint and Vulgate versions adds here what is expressed in Ch_18:8,"wherewith Solomon made the brazen sea, and the pillars, and the layers, and all the vessels.'' Ch_18:8 And David brought very much bronze from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, with which Solomon made the bronze sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of bronze.

2Sa 8:9 When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,

Hamath - This appears as an independent kingdom so late as the time of Senacherib Isa_37:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? But in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, both Hamath and Arpad appear to have been incorporated in the kingdom of Damascus Jer_49:23 Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news. They are melted; anxiety is in the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Hamath - Which was another small kingdom in Syria , perhaps lately erected to defend themselves against Hadadezer. The Syrian prince, being delivered from the dread of a dangerous neighbor, sent his son with valuable presents to David to congratulate him on his victories, and solicit his alliance and protection.

2Sa 8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:

Then Toi sent Joram his son unto King David - The name Toi is written Tou in the Chronicles, according to a different mode of interpretation; and the name of the son is given as Hadoram in the Chronicles, instead of Joram as in the text in the next verse. According to 1Ch_18:3, the territory of the king of Hamath bordered upon that of Hadadezer, and the latter had probably tried to make king Toi submit to him. The secret object of the salutation, however, was no doubt to secure the friendship of this new and powerful neighbor.

2Sa 8:11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;

Which also King David did dedicate unto the Lord - He devoted it to sacred uses, particularly to the building of the house of the Lord, as he also had the gold and the brass he took from Hadadezer. He did not convert the spoils he took to his own use, but observed the law God gave to the kings of Israel, that they should not greatly multiply to themselves silver and gold, Deu_17:17 Nor shall he multiply wives to himself, so that his heart does not turn away. Nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold to himself. He set it apart, and laid it up for the service of the sanctuary; and this accounts for the abundance of gold, silver, and brass, which David had amassed together, and left to his son Solomon to build the temple with.

2Sa 8:12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

Syria - Of Syria of Damascus, as distinct from Syriazobah, Hadadezer was king of, after mentioned; this is omitted in 1Ch_18:11,

and of Amalek - though we have no account of any war of his with that people, since he was king, yet he doubtless had, and had been victorious and spoiled them; see Psa_83:7,

List of nations - These conquests of David, are confirmed by the testimony of Eupolemus, who says that he overcame the Syrians by Euphrates, and the Assyrians in Galadene (or Gilead), and the Phoenicians; that he fought against the Idumeans (or Edomites), the Ammonites, Moabites, Ituraeans, Nabathaeans, and Nabdaeans; also against Syron king of Tyre and Phoenicia; all of whom he obliged to pay tribute to the Jews.

2Sa 8:13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.

The Syrians - the Edomites, (compare Psa_60:1-12 title), and as the context 2Sa_8:14 requires. For a further account of this war of extermination with Edom , see 1Ki_11:15-16. The war with Edom was of some duration, not without serious reverses and dangers to the Israelites. The different accounts probably relate to different parts of the campaign.

David gat him a name - Became a very celebrated and eminent man. Fame and reputation in the several nations of the world for valor and courage.

The valley of salt - Supposed to be a large plain abounding in this mineral, about a league from the city of Palmyra or Tadmor in the wilderness.

The valley of salt - The valley was the ravine of salt (the Ghor), adjoining the Salt Mountain , at the southwestern extremity of the Dead Sea , separating the ancient territories of Judah and Edom

2Sa 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.

He put garrisons in Edom - To keep the inhabitants in subjection to him; as their forts and strong holds came into his hands, he placed companies of soldiers in them for the said purpose;

all they of Edom became David's servants - and hereby were fulfilled the oracle delivered to Rebekah, and the prophetic blessing of Isaac, Gen_25:23 And the LORD said to her, Two nations are in your womb, and two kinds of people shall be separated from your bowels. And the one people shall be stronger than the other people, the older shall serve the younger.

2Sa 8:15 And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.

David reigned over all Israel - Not only over Judah, but over all the tribes of Israel, and over the whole land of Canaan, as promised to Abraham, Gen_15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, I have given this land to your seed, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, reaching to the river Euphrates, as Syria did, now conquered by David:

David executed judgment and justice unto all his people - when he returned from his wars, he heard and tried all causes impartially, brought before him, and gave sentence according to the law of God, and administered righteous judgment without any respect to persons, in which he was a type of Christ.

2Sa 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;

Recorder - one who kept a strict journal of all the proceedings of the king and operations of his army; a chronicler. Or, remembrancer, or, writer of chronicles.

Recorder - The recorder seems to have been a high officer of state, a kind of chancellor, whose office was to keep a record of the events of the kingdom for the king’s information, and hence, he would naturally be the king’s adviser.

Joab was over the host - General and commander-in-chief over all the army. Which was not only owing to his relation to David, being his sister's son, but to his promise that whoever smote the Jebusites first should be chief and captain; that is, should have the command of the army under him; this Joab did; and so was entitled to this office, and was put into it, and continued in it, 1Ch_11:6 And David said, Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first and was chief.

Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud - of whom nothing further is known.

2Sa 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

Seraiah was the scribe – Some say this is the king’s private secretary. Others say the scribe was a secretary of state.

Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests – On the massacre of the priests at Nob in1Sa_22:19, Saul conferred the priesthood on Zadok, of the family of Eleazar (1Ch_6:50), while David acknowledged Ahimelech, of Ithamar’s family, who fled to him. The two high priests exercised their office under the respective princes to whom they were attached. But, on David’s obtaining the kingdom over all Israel , they both retained their dignity; Ahimelech officiating at Jerusalem , and Zadok at Gibeon 1Ch_16:39 And he left Zadok the priest and his brothers the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place at Gibeon,

Zadok and Ahimelech were the priests – Abiathar was high priest, and continued so until the time of Solomon, when he was thrust out of his office, and Zadok put into it; and Ahimelech his son and Zadok were the principal priests under him, the one of the family of Ithamar, the other of Eleazar. Zadok is mentioned first, though Ahimelech was the son of the present high priest, because he was in great favor with David, as afterwards with Solomon, in whose days the high priesthood was transferred to him; the family of Eli being now upon the decline, and near being removed from the high priesthood, as was foretold by .

2Sa 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.

The Cherethites and the Pelethites - The former supposed to be those who accompanied David when he fled from Saul; the latter, those who came to him at Ziklag. These, according to Josephus, were the king's bodyguards, and this man is expressly said to be set over his guards, 2Sa_23:22-23 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty ones. He was more honorable than the thirty, but he did not attain to the first three. And David set him over his guard.

Pelethites — from Pelet (1Ch_12:3). They were the valiant men who, having accompanied David during his exile among the Philistines, were made his bodyguard.

2 Samuel 7

2Sa 7:1 And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

And it came to pass - There is no indication how soon after the bringing up of the ark these things occurred, but it was probably at no long interval.

When the king sat in his house - That is, when he became resident in the palace which Hiram, king of Tyre , had built for him.

And the Lord had given him rest - though this rest and peace did not last long; for the next chapter gives an account of each of the people he was engaged in war with, This was after he had defeated the Philistines, and cast them out of all the strong places in Israel which they had possessed after the overthrow of Saul; but before he had carried his arms beyond the land of Israel , against the Moabites, Syrians, and Idumeans. 2Sa_8:1-14.

And the Lord had given him rest - Now, as all David's principal wars are grouped together for the first time in 2 Samuel 8 and 10, there can be no doubt that the history is not arranged in a strictly chronological order. And the expression “after this” in 2Sa_8:1 is by no means at variance with this, since this formula does not at all express a strictly chronological sequence.

2Sa 7:2 That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

Nathan the prophet - Here first mentioned, but playing an important part afterward (e. g. 2Sa_12:1; 1Ki_1:10; 1Ch_29:29; 2Ch_9:29). From the two last passages it appears that he wrote the history of David’s reign, and a part at least of Solomon’s. His distinctive title is the prophet, that of Gad the seer (compare 1Sa_9:9). He was probably much younger than David. In 2Sa_7:3, he spoke his own private opinion; in 2Sa_7:4, this was corrected by the word of the Lord.

Nathan the prophet - This is the first time this prophet is made mention of, but often afterwards, yet who he was, and from whence he came, is not known; he appears to be a man of great piety and prudence, as well as endowed with a prophetic spirit, and was very familiar with David, and perhaps dwelt in his palace; being a man on all accounts fit for conversation with princes, to whom David imparted what he had been meditating upon in his heart.

I dwell in a house of cedar - That is, a house whose principal beams, ceiling, and wainscot, were cedar.

Dwelleth within curtains - in a tabernacle within curtains; not the tabernacle of Moses, for that was at Gibeon, 1Ch_21:29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that time in the high place at Gibeon; but that which David had made for it, which consisted of curtains that were drawn around it, 2Sa_6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. It gave him a concern that he should dwell in so magnificent a palace, and the ark of God should have so mean an habitation; wherefore it was upon his mind to build a grand edifice for it, and this he suggested hereby to Nathan.

David was resolute and eager to perform it; and now it was he penned Psa_132, in which he expresses his oath and vow to find a place to build on. Psalms 132:1-5 A Song of degrees. O LORD, remember David and all his afflictions, how he swore to the LORD; he vowed to the mighty One of Jacob. Surely I will not come into the tent of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to my eyes, nor slumber to my eyelids, until I find out a place for the LORD, a dwelling-place for the Mighty One of Jacob.

2Sa 7:3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.

Nathan said to the king - The piety of the design commended it to the prophet’s mind, and he gave his hasty approval and encouragement to the royal plans. In this case he gave his judgment as a pious and prudent man, not as a prophet; for prophets did not always speak under divine influence. David and he should have consulted the Lord about it; in this they erred, and for which they were tacitly reproved;

Nathan said to the king - The design being pious and the thing not forbidden by God, Nathan hastily approves it, before he had consulted God about it, as both he and David ought to have done in a matter of so great moment. And therefore Nathan meets with this rebuke, that he is forced to acknowledge his error, and recant it. For the holy prophets did not speak all things by prophetic inspiration, but some things by an human spirit.

2Sa 7:4 And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

the word of the Lord came unto Nathan - the word of prophecy; before he was not under a prophetic influence, but spoke in his own words, and had not the word of God; but now it came to him: The command was given to the prophet on the night immediately following; that is, before David could either take any measures or incur any expenses. Because David's mistake was pious, and from an honest mind, God would not suffer him to lie long in it.

Blessings are promised to the family and posterity of David. These promises relate to Solomon, David's immediate successor, and the royal line of Judah . But they also relate to Christ, who is often called David and the Son of David. To him God gave all power in heaven and earth, with authority to execute judgment. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for God's name; the spiritual temple of true believers, to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. The establishing of his house, his throne, and his kingdom for ever, can be applied to no other than to Christ and his kingdom: David's house and kingdom long since came to an end. The committing iniquity cannot be applied to the Messiah himself, but to his spiritual seed; true believers have infirmities, for which they must expect to be corrected, though they are not cast off.

2Sa 7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

Shalt thou build me a house - That is, Thou shalt not: this is the force of the interrogative in such a case.

Go and tell my servant David - The Lord speaks very honorably and respectfully of him, owns him to be his servant in other things, though he did not choose to employ him in this.

2Sa 7:6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

Have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle - Implying the frequent moving of the tabernacle, while in the wilderness, and since in the land of Canaan , first at Gilgal, then at Shiloh , afterwards at Nob, and now at Gibeon , as opposed to a settled resting in one place. Observe the constant reference to the Exodus and to the details as given in the books of Moses.

in a tent and in a tabernacle - "Tent" and "tabernacle" are distinguished; the tent was the curtains of goats' hair, and the tabernacle the linen curtains, see Exo_26:1. The one may note the curtains and hangings within, the other the frame of boards, and coverings upon it.

The Lord gave two reasons why David's proposal to build Him a temple should not be carried out: (1) He had hitherto lived in a tent in the midst of His people; (2) He had not commanded any former prince or tribe to build a temple.

2Sa 7:7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

An house of cedar - Beams of cedar marked a costly building. The cedar of Lebanon is a close-grained, light-colored, yellowish wood, with darker knots and veins.

2Sa 7:8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David - For it was taken well at his hands, in part, that it was in his heart, and he had a desire to build an house for God, though he was wrong in determining upon it without seeking the Lord; and lest he should be discouraged by the prohibition of him from building, the following things are observed to assure him it was not from disregard unto him, or displeasure at him, that he would not be employed in this service; since the Lord had given sufficient tokens of his favor to him, and with which he should be content, as having honor enough done him; it was enough that God had raised him up from a low estate to great grandeur and dignity:

I took thee from the sheepcote - for that was his employment, to keep his father's sheep, before he was taken into Saul's court, and married his daughter, when after his death he came to have the crown, of Israel: now this is said, not to upbraid him with his former meanness, but to observe the goodness of God unto him, and what reason he had for thankfulness.

2Sa 7:9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.

I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest - When he went against Goliath, when he went forth against the Philistines, when in Saul's court, when he fled from Saul, and was obliged to go to various places, God was with him protecting and preserving him, prospering and succeeding him every where, and in everything:

and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight - as Saul, and others in the land of Israel , and the Philistines, and other enemies round about him, so that he had rest from them all:

2Sa 7:10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

I will appoint a place - The land of Canaan: this the Lord had of old appointed to them, and had introduced them into and settled them in it, but not entirely and alone; in many places the Canaanites had inhabited; but now they should be expelled, and the Israelites should have the place to themselves:

and move no more - as they did in the times of the judges, when, sinning against God, they were often delivered into their enemies' hands, and carried captives:

neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime - when in Egypt, and in the times of the judges; all which is supposed, provided they did not depart from the Lord, but abode by his word, worship, and ordinances, and obeyed his will; for it was by their obedience they held their tenure of the land of Canaan; or all this may respect future times, when they shall be converted to the Messiah, and return to their own land, and ever continue in it, and never more be harassed and distressed.

2Sa 7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

that he will make thee an house - not only build up his family, and make that numerous, but establish the house of his kingdom; that whereas he was desirous of building an house for God, God would build up an house for him; which would be a clear proof, that though he did not think fit to make use of him in the building of his house, yet he was not cast out of his favor, nor was it to be so interpreted by himself or others.

2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

The prophet, having detailed God’s past mercies to David, now passes on to direct prophecy, and that one of the most important in the O d Testament.

I will set up the seed - In one sense this refers to Solomon, David’s successor and the builder of the temple. But we have the direct authority of Peter Act_2:29-30 Men, brothers, it is permitted to say to you with plainness as to the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit upon his throne, for applying it to Christ the seed of David, and His eternal kingdom; and the title the Son of David given to the Messiah in the rabbinical writings, as well as its special application to Jesus in the New Testament, springs mainly from the acknowledged Messianic significance of this prophecy. Isa_55:3 Bow down your ear, and come to Me; hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Act_13:34 And that He raised Him up from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He spoke in this way: "I will give you the holy promises of David."

And when thy days be fulfilled - The days of his life, which were appointed by the Lord for him to live. This phrase implies, that his days shall be prolonged to the usual course of nature, and not cut off in the midst, by any violent or untimely death.

thou shalt sleep with thy fathers - die and be buried; for this is a phrase expressive of death, and the grave the common portion of men:

I will set up thy seed after thee - sons to succeed in the kingdom, as they did for the space of five hundred years; though here it respects one particular seed or son, even Solomon, as well as a reference to the promised Messiah. So the following words may be understood, part of his posterity in general, part of Solomon, and part of Christ only, according to the different nature of the several passages.

which shall proceed out of thy bowels - be begotten by him, and born unto him, and has regard to a future son of his not yet born; not Absalom nor Adonijah, nor any of the rest born in Hebron were to succeed him in the kingdom, but one as yet unborn:

I will establish his kingdom - so that he shall have a long and happy reign, as Solomon had.

2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

He shall build an house - For the fulfillment of this in the person of Solomon, see 1Ki_8:16-20. For its application to Christ, see Joh_1:12; Eph_1:20-22; 1Ti_3:15; Heb_3:6; etc.; and Zec_6:12-13.

I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever - The words forever, emphatically twice repeated in 2Sa_7:16, show very distinctly that this prophecy looks beyond the succession of the kings of Judah of the house of David, and embraces the throne of Christ according to the Angel’s interpretation given in Luk_1:31-33 And behold! You shall conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest. And the Lord God shall give Him the throne of His father David. And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end, where the reference to this passage cannot be mistaken. This is also brought out fully in Psa_89:29 Also I have set his seed forever, and his throne as the days of the heavens. Psa_89:36-37 His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and like a faithful witness in the heavens. Selah.

2Sa 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

I will be his father, and he shall be my son - That is, I will be as kind unto him, and careful of him, as a father of a son; or he shall be, and appear to be my son, by adopting grace, as no doubt Solomon was, notwithstanding all his failings. This is applied to Christ, the antitypical Solomon, who was, in an higher sense, the Son of God, even by natural and eternal generation; Heb_1:5 For to which of the angels did He say at any time, "You are My Son, this day I have begotten You?" And again, "I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?"

I will be his father, and he shall be my son - I will carry myself towards him as a father, with all affection, and I will own him as my son. This is intended both of Solomon, as a type of Christ; and of Christ himself as is evident from Heb_1:5.

if he commit iniquity – This agrees only to Solomon and others of David's posterity; but not to Christ, who never committed iniquity. Christ bore our sin although He didn’t commit any Himself. Solomon committed many sins and transgressions:

2Sa 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul - His house shall be a lasting house, and he shall die in the throne of Israel, his children succeeding him; and the spiritual seed, Christ, possessing and ruling in that throne to the end of time. The family of Saul became totally extinct; the family of David remained till the incarnation. Joseph and Mary were both of that family; Jesus was the only heir to the kingdom of Israel ; he did not choose to sit on the secular throne, he ascended the spiritual throne, and now he is exalted to the right hand of God, a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and remission of sins.

as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee - and therefore must be understood of his mercy and kindness, in giving him a kingdom, and setting him on the throne; this should not be taken away from him, as it was from Saul, whom God rejected from being king; not him personally, but his posterity; but so the Lord would not do, nor did he, to Solomon, in whose posterity the kingdom of Judah continued to the Babylon captivity.

2Sa 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

2Sa 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

According to all these words, and according to all this vision - All the words of this prophecy, just as they were delivered to Nathan, were exactly expressed by him; he did not vary from them in the least, but with the greatest faithfulness related them:

so did Nathan speak unto David - it was contrary to the advice which he had given; but he was not ashamed to retract his sense, when he was made acquainted with the mind of God.

2Sa 7:18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

Sat before the Lord - In the tent where the ark was. It appears that a sitting posture was sometimes used in prayer. David's prayer consists of two parts - thanksgiving for the promise (2Sa_7:18-24), and supplication for its fulfillment (2Sa_7:25-29). The thanksgiving consists of a confession of unworthiness of all the great things that the Lord had hitherto done for him, and which He had still further increased by this glorious promise (2Sa_7:18-21), and praise to the Lord that all this had been done in proof of His true Deity, and to glorify His name upon His chosen people Israel.

he said, who am I, O Lord God? - a creature, a sinful creature, a mean and unworthy one, undeserving of a place in the house of God, and of access unto him, and to receive any favor from him, less than the least of all saints, less than the least of all mercies:

he said, who am I, O Lord God? - These words recall Jacob's prayer in Gen_32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have done to Your servant. For with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two bands. David acknowledged himself to be unworthy of the great mercy which the Lord had displayed towards him, that he might give the glory to God alone.

he said, who am I, O Lord God? - David's prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have, must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honorably of the Lord's favors to him.

and what is my house - or family, the family of Jesse; for though it sprung from a prince in Israel , yet was but low and mean, in comparison of some others, and especially unworthy of the regard of the great God:

that thou hast brought me hitherto? - to such grandeur and dignity, as to be king over all Israel and Judah, to have all his enemies subdued under him, and to be at peace and rest from them, and established in his kingdom; and which he signifies the Lord alone had brought him to, through many difficulties and tribulations, and which he could never have attained unto by his own wisdom and power, nor by the assistance of his friends; it was all the Lord's doing, and wondrous in his eyes.

2Sa 7:19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

is this the manner of man — that is, is it customary for men to show such condescension to persons so humble as I am?

2Sa 7:20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

2Sa 7:21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

For thy word's sake - For the sake of the promise he had made to him by Samuel, that he should be king, and his kingdom should be established; or for the sake of the Messiah, that should spring from him;

according to thine own heart - of his own sovereign good will and pleasure, of his own grace, not according to the merits and deserts of David:

For thy word's sake - an allusion to the earlier promises of God, or the Messianic prophecies generally, particularly the one concerning Judah in Jacob's blessing Gen_49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. And the obedience of the peoples to him and the one relating to the ruler out of Jacob in Balaam's sayings Num_24:17 I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not near. There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel. and shall strike the corners of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult. For the fact that David recognized the connection between the promise of God communicated to him by Nathan and Jacob's prophecy in Gen_49:10, is evident from 1Ch_28:4 But the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever. For He has chosen Judah to be the ruler, and of the house of Judah the house of my father. And in my father's house He was pleased to make me king over all Israel where he refers to his election as king as being the consequence of the election of Judah as ruler.

2Sa 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Wherefore thou art great, O Lord God - In his name, nature, persons, and perfections, purposes, promises, and works:

neither is there any God beside thee - there is but one God, the living and true God, the former and maker of all things; all others are but fictitious and factitious gods.

according to all that we have heard with our ears - concerning what he did in the land of Egypt upon the Egyptians, and in the wilderness, in favor of the Israelites, and in the land of Canaan, by driving out the inhabitants before the people of Israel, and in the times of the judges, in raising them up to deliver his people.

2Sa 7:23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

The nations and their gods - meaning, that they were redeemed not only from Egypt , but the nations of the Canaanites were driven out before them; nor could their idols save them, but destruction came upon them as upon the gods of the Egyptians.

And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel - For the knowledge and worship of the true God among them, for laws and or given them, and for blessings of goodness bestowed upon them:

great things and terrible - as he did in the land of Ham, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, and in the land of Canaan, great things for his people, and terrible ones to their enemies:

2Sa 7:24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

thou, Lord, art become their God - their covenant God, they having avouched him to be their God, and he having avouched them to be his people, Deu_26:17-19 You have today said that the LORD is your God, and that you would walk in His ways, and keep His statutes and His commandments and His judgments, and listen to His voice. And the LORD has taken you today to be His peculiar people, as He has promised you, and to keep all His commandments, and to make you high above all nations which he has made, in praise and in name and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, even as He has spoken.

2Sa 7:25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

And now, O Lord God - From confessions of unworthiness, and of the goodness of God, and a recital of favors conferred on him and the people of Israel , David proceeds to petitions:

2Sa 7:26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

And let thy name be magnified for ever - David desired the performance of the above things not so much for his own sake, and for the sake of his family, as for the glory of God; his great concern was, that God might be magnified, and his greatness displayed, in making him and his family great; and particularly that he might be magnified and glorified in that famous Son of his, the Messiah, as he has been, Joh_13:31; and by all his people in succeeding ages:

2Sa 7:27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

Thy servant hath found in his heart to pray this prayer -David felt himself encouraged to offer this prayer through the revelation which he had received.

2Sa 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

2Sa 7:29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant - Not according to the merits of him or his family, but according to the sovereign will and pleasure of God;

2 Samuel 6

2Sa 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

Again David gathered - he assembled them again for the peaceful purpose of bringing up the ark to Mount Zion . The whole narrative indicates the progressive consolidation of David’s power, and the settlement of his monarchy on strong foundations.

Thirty thousand - This is supposed to have been a new levy; and thus he augmented his army by 30,000 fresh troops. The Septuagint has 70,000.

2Sa 6:2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

Whose name - The literal rendering is, “Upon which is called the Name, the Name of Yahweh of Hosts, who sits upon the cherubim,” i. e. the ark which is called after the Lord of Hosts and bears His Name;

From Baale of Judah - This is supposed to be the same city which, in Jos_15:60, is called Kirjah-baal or Kirjath-jearim; or Baalah, Jos_15:9. 1Ch_13:6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath-jearim of Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Jehovah God, He who dwells between the cherubs, whose name is called on it.

2Sa 6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

The house of Abinadab in Gibeah - Rather, on the hill (as in 1Sa_7:1). It does not at all follow that Abinadab was still alive, nor can we conclude from Uzzah and Ahio being called sons of Abinadab, that they were literally his children. They may well have been sons of Eleazar and grandsons of Abinadab, or yet more remote descendants; since there is no distinct evidence that Abinadab was alive even when the ark was brought to Kirjath-jearim. The house may have retained the name of “the house of Abinadab” long after his death.

A new cart - Every thing used in the worship of God was hallowed or set apart for that purpose: a new cart was used through respect, as that had never been applied to any profane or common purpose. But this was not sufficient, for the ark should have been carried on the shoulders of the Levites only, and those of the family of Kohath, to whom no wagons were given, when others had them, for the above reason, Num_7:9 But to the sons of Kohath he did not give any, because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was that which they should carry upon their shoulders. The neglect of this ceremony was the cause of the death of Uzzah. It is strange that so many priests and Levites, and of the people of Israel gathered together on that account, and David also, so well versed in the law of God, should not refer to it; perhaps they were led by the example of the Philistines, who put it in a new cart, and set it forward towards Bethshemesh, and were not punished for it. This mistake was afterwards seen by David, and rectified, 1Ch_15:2 Then David said, No one ought to carry the ark of God except the Levites, for God has chosen them to carry the ark of God, and to minister to Him forever;

They set the ark of God upon a new cart - This was a hasty and inconsiderate procedure, in violation of an express statute Num_4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set forward, then after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it . But they shall not touch any holy thing lest they die. These are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. Num_7:9 But to the sons of Kohath he did not give any, because the service of the sanctuary belonging to them was that which they should carry upon their shoulders. Num_18:3 And they shall keep your charge and the charge of all the tabernacle. Only they shall not come near the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, so that neither they nor you also may die. Being taught, and encouraged to do so, by the example of the Philistines, who acted without any token of God's displeasure upon them for their handling of the ark, they did not sufficiently consider that God might wink at the Philistines, because they were ignorant of God's laws; and yet be angry with them for the same thing, because they knew, or might have known the law of God, which commanded the priests to bear it upon their shoulders. But their present transports of joy of the happy change of their affairs, and their greedy desire of having the ark of God removed, made them inconsiderate.

2Sa 6:4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

Ahio went before the ark - guiding the oxen that drew it, and Uzzah might go behind, or on one side, to take care that the ark fell not out of it.

2Sa 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

Cornets - Rather, from the etymology of the Hebrew word (to shake), and their being coupled with the cymbals, and being rendered sistra in the Vulgate, some kind of instrument with bells or rings, which gave a sound by being shaken.

the house of Israel played before the Lord - That is, before the ark, which was a symbol of the presence of the Lord:

on all manner of instruments made of fir wood - which is a general expression, the particulars follow

2Sa 6:6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

Shook it - The use of the Heb. word here is unusual. the same word is used in 1Ch_13:9; and there it is rendered, "for the oxen stumbled"; and by their stumbling the cart was shaken, and the ark in it, and in danger of falling, as Uzzah thought: or "the oxen shook",

Uzzah put forth his hand - In Num_4:15-20, the Levites are forbidden to touch the ark on pain of death, this penalty was inflicted upon Uzzah, and he was the first that suffered for a breach of this law.

they came to Nachon's threshingfloor - Who is called Chidon, 1Ch_13:9 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark for the oxen stumbled. he seems to have had two names; or it was a place that had two names.

the oxen shook it--or, "stumbled" (1Ch_13:9). Fearing that the ark was in danger of being overturned, Uzzah, under the impulse of momentary feeling, laid hold of it to keep it steady. He fell dead upon the spot. This melancholy occurrence not only threw a cloud over the joyous scene, but entirely stopped the procession; for the ark was left where it then was, in the near neighborhood of the capital. It is of importance to observe the proportionate severity of the punishments attending the profanation of the ark. The Philistines suffered by diseases, from which they were relieved by their oblations, because the law had not been given to them [1Sa_5:8-12]; the Bethshemites also suffered, but not fatally [1Sa_6:19]; their error proceeded from ignorance or inadvertency. But Uzzah, who was a Levite, and well instructed, suffered death for his breach of the law. The severity of Uzzah's fate may seem to us too great for the nature and degree of the offense. But it does not become us to sit in judgment on the dispensations of God; and, besides, it is apparent that the divine purpose was to inspire awe of His majesty, a submission to His law, and a profound veneration for the symbols and ordinances of His worship.

2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Smote him there for his error - This may seem very severe, considering his intention was pious, and his transgression not great. Uzzah sinned through ignorance and precipitancy; he had not time to reflect, the oxen suddenly stumbled; and, fearing lest the ark should fall, he suddenly stretched out his hand to prevent it. Had he touched the ark with impunity, the populace might have lost their respect for it and its sacred service, the example of Uzzah must have filled them with fear and sacred reverence

there he died by the ark of God - directly, upon the spot, by the side of it; in what way, cannot be said; however, he died by the immediate hand of God, in token of his displeasure: and this shows that it is dangerous in matters of worship to act contrary to the command of God, even in things that may seem small and trivial; and though what may be done may be done with a good intention, as this was, yet that will not excuse the sin; nor are those who are the most forward and zealous in religious matters exempted from marks of God's displeasure when they go wrong.

there he died by the ark of God - Uzzah's offence consisted in the fact that he had touched the ark with profane feelings, although with good intentions, namely to prevent its rolling over and falling from the cart. Touching the ark, the throne of the divine glory and visible pledge of the invisible presence of the Lord, was a violation of the majesty of the holy God. Uzzah was therefore a type of all who with good intentions, humanly speaking, yet with unsanctified minds, interfere in the affairs of the kingdom of God , from the notion that they are in danger, and with the hope of saving them.

2Sa 6:8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

David was displeased - Grief allied to anger seems to be intended. He could not easily submit, and be reconciled to the providence; his heart was ready to rise up against God, and murmur at him for striking him dead in such an awful manner. This put a stop to the procession, and cast a damp upon their joy and mirth on this occasion, and might seem to be an ill omen to David, and be improved by his enemies against him:

Perezuzzah - the name he gave the place, which signifies "the breach of Uzzah", continued to the time of writing this book.

David was displeased - On further reflection, David could not fail to discover where the cause of Uzzah's offence, which he had atoned for with his life, really had lain, and that it had actually arisen from the fact that he (David) and those about him had decided to disregard the distinct instructions of the law with regard to the handling of the ark. According to Num 4 the ark was not only to be moved by none but Levites, but it was to be carried on the shoulders, not in a carriage; and in Num_4:15, even the Levites were expressly forbidden to touch it on pain of death. But instead of taking these instructions as their rule, they had followed the example of the Philistines when they sent back the ark (1Sa_6:7.), and had placed it upon a new cart, and directed Uzzah to drive it, whilst, as his conduct on the occasion clearly shows, he had no idea of the unapproachable holiness of the ark of God, and had to expiate his offence with his life, as a warning to all the Israelites.

2Sa 6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

David was afraid of the Lord that day - Lest he should be smitten for his error also, and especially as he had discovered some resentment at the Lord's dealing with Uzzah; when he ought to have been still and quiet, and submitted to the will of God, and owned his justice in it, confessed his own error, and been thankful for his sparing mercy vouchsafed to him:

how shall the ark of the Lord come to me - the meaning of which is not, how it should be brought to the place provided by him in Jerusalem, for there were Levites enough to carry it, but signifying that it would be either boldness and presumption in him to do it, since God had shown such a mark of his displeasure at their proceeding, whether it was the will of God it should come to him; An earlier consultation by Urim would have led him right at the first, whereas in this perplexity and distress, he was reaping the fruits of inconsideration and neglect.

how shall the ark of the Lord come to me - David's excitement at what had occurred was soon changed into fear of the Lord. If merely touching the ark of God is punished in this way, how can he have it brought up to the citadel of Zion ? He therefore relinquished his intention of bringing it into the city of David , and placed it in the house of Obed-edom the Gathite. Obed-edom was a Levite of the family of the Korahites, who sprang from Kohath, and belonged to the class of Levitical doorkeepers, whose duty it was, in connection with other Levites, to watch over the ark in the sacred tent (1Ch_15:18, 1Ch_15:24). He is called the Gittite or Gathite from his birthplace, the Levitical city of Gath-rimmon in the tribe of Dan (Jos_21:24; Jos_19:45).

2Sa 6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

Obededom - a Levite of the family of Merari, being a son of Jeduthun, who was a Merarite. 1Ch_15:18-24 And with them were their brothers of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers. And the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were chosen to sound with cymbals of bronze; and Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with harps set to Alamoth. And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, were to lead with lyres on the octave. And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song. He instructed about the song, because he was skillful. And Berechiah and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark. And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, blew with the trumpets before the ark of God. And Obed-edom and Jehiah were gatekeepers for the ark.1Ch_16:38 also Obed-edom, with their brothers, sixty-eight; and Obed-edom, the son of Jeduthun and Hosah to be gatekeepers.

He was a porter, a player on the harp, and was one of the Levites especially designated to take part in the musical services on the occasion of bringing up the ark to Zion , and to minister before it when brought up. He is called a Gittite perhaps from Gath-Rimmon, in Manasseh, which belonged to the Kohathites Jos_21:25. Marriage with a Kohathite, or some other cause, would account for his dwelling in a Kohathite city.

So David would not remove the ark of the Lord - As yet, but wait a little longer, until he had more thoroughly considered of it, and made himself acquainted with everything relative to the ark, that he might know how to behave for the future, without giving offence:

David carried it aside into the house of - which was close by, on one side of the place where they were; this man was a Levite, as appears from his being afterwards appointed to be doorkeeper for the ark, and to sing praise before it, and so a proper person to commit the care of it to.

House of Obededom – he knew what slaughter the ark had made among the Philistines and the Bethshemites. He saw Uzzah struck dead; yet invites it to his house, and opens his doors without fear, knowing it was a savor of death, only to them that treated it ill.

2Sa 6:11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

The Lord blessed Obededom - Because he had the ark of the Lord in his house. Whoever entertains God’s messengers, or consecrates his house to the service of God, will receive God’s blessing.

The Lord blessed Obededom - him, and all his family, with spiritual blessings, and with an affluence of temporal good things; Josephus says, that Obededom was very poor before, and in a low condition, out of which he soon emerged, and came into affluent circumstances, so as to be taken notice of by his neighbors, and reported abroad;

The Lord blessed Obededom - The same hand that punished Uzzah's presumption, rewarded Obededom's humble boldness.

2Sa 6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

With gladness - Especially with joyful music and song. Being animated and encouraged by the blessing of God on the house of Obededom, because of it, and thereby freed from those slavish fears he was before possessed of, and filled with hopes of being blessed also on account of it; if not with temporal blessings, he needed not, yet with spiritual ones.

So David brought up the ark - The Vulgate adds to this verse: And David had seven choirs, and a calf for a sacrifice. The Septuagint make a greater addition in verses 13-14: “And he had seven choirs carrying the ark, a sacrifice, a calf, and lambs. And David played on harmonious organs before the Lord; and David was clothed with a costly tunic;” Nothing of this is found in any version, nor in the parallel place, 1Ch_15:25.

And it was told King David - By some of his courtiers who had heard of it:

it was told king David --The lapse of three months not only restored the agitated mind of the monarch to a tranquil and settled tone, but led him to a discovery of his former error. Having learned that the ark was kept in its temporary resting-place not only without inconvenience or danger, but with great advantage, he resolved forthwith to remove it to the capital, with the observance of all due form and solemnity (1Ch_15:1-13). It was transported now on the shoulders of the priests, who had been carefully prepared for the work, and the procession was distinguished by extraordinary solemnities and demonstrations of joy.

So David brought up the ark - When the ark had been in the house of Obededom for three months, and David heard that the Lord had blessed his house for the sake of the ark of God, he went thither and brought it up to the city of David with gladness i.e., with festal rejoicing, or a solemn procession. On this occasion, however, David adhered strictly to the instructions of the law, as the more elaborate account given in the Chronicles clearly shows. He not only gathered together all Israel at Jerusalem to join in this solemn act, but summoned the priests and Levites, and commanded them to sanctify themselves, and carry the ark “according to the right,” i.e., as the Lord had commanded in the law of Moses, and to offer sacrifices during the procession, and sin songs, i.e., psalms, with musical accompaniment. In the very condensed account before us, all that is mentioned is the carrying of the ark, the sacrificing during the march, and the festivities of the king and people. But even from these few facts we see that David had discovered his former mistake, and had given up the idea of removing the ark upon a carriage as a transgression of the law.

2Sa 6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings - The meaning is, not that they sacrificed oxen and fatlings every six steps, which would have been impossible, but that when - after the arrangement made by David for the Levites to carry the ark 1Ch_15:2, 1Ch_15:12, 1Ch_15:15 they had borne it successfully and with visible tokens of God’s favor, out of the house of Obed-edom and six “steps” on the road to the city of David to the sound of the musical instruments - then they stopped and offered solemn sacrifices. Possibly “the step” may have had a technical sense, and denoted a certain distance.

when they that bare the ark of the Lord - The Levites; for now David had seen the former mistake, and rectified it, and ordered the Levites to "carry" it, as they did upon their shoulders, with the staves therein.

had gone six paces, he sacrificed - upon an altar, which was at once erected for that purpose; the number and kind of sacrifices offered were seven bullocks and seven rams, 1Ch_15:26; and these David offered by the priests that were with him.

had gone six paces, he sacrificed - Some think these words mean that sacrifices of this kind were offered along the whole way, at the distance of six paces apart. The words of the text do not distinctly affirm that sacrifices were offered whenever the bearers advanced six paces, but only that this was done was soon as the bearers had taken the first six steps. So that, strictly speaking, all that is stated is, that when the procession had started and gone six paces, the sacrifice was offered, namely, for the purpose of inaugurating or consecrating the solemn procession.

2Sa 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

David danced before the Lord - The Hebrew word is found only here and in 2Sa_6:16. It means “to dance in a circle,” hence, simply to dance. The parallel passage in 1Ch_15:27 gives a widely different sense.

David danced before the Lord - That is, before the ark of the Lord; not a set dance, or along with others; but he leaped and skipped as "car", a lamb, does, and that for joy that the ark was like to be brought home to his house, without any token of the divine displeasure, as before

David danced before the Lord - at other celebrations of the different victories gained by the Israelites, none but women are described as taking part in it (Jdg_11:34; Jdg_21:19; 1Sa_18:6).

David was girded with a linen ephod - The white ephod was, strictly speaking, a priestly costume, although in the law it is not prescribed as the dress to be worn by them when performing their official duties, but rather as the dress which denoted the priestly character of the wearer (see at 1Sa_22:18); and for this reason it was worn by David in connection with these festivities in honor of the Lord, as the head of the priestly nation of Israel (see at 1Sa_2:18).

David was girded with a linen ephod - which others, besides priests, sometimes wore, as Samuel did, and which David might choose to appear in, rather than in his royal robes, as being more agreeable to the service of God, and lighter for him both to walk and dance in on this occasion. David laid by his royal robes, and put on this robe to declare, that although he was king of Israel , yet he willingly owned himself to be the Lord's minister and servant.

with all his might--intimating violent efforts of leaping, and divested of his royal mantle (in a state of undress), conduct apparently unsuitable to the gravity of age or the dignity of a king. But it was unquestionably done as an act of religious homage, his attitudes and dress being symbolic of penitence, joy, thankfulness, and devotion.

2Sa 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

all the house of Israel - The elders of Israel , and the captains over thousands, 1Ch_15:25; besides the common people; there might be as large a number with him now as before:

2Sa 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

She despised him in her heart - In the days of Saul the ark had been neglected 1Ch_13:3, and Saul had in everything shown himself to be an irreligious king. Michal seems to have been of a like spirit. She did not blame him outwardly; she thought he had disgraced himself, but she kept her mind to herself. Michal is intentionally designated the daughter of Saul here, instead of the wife of David, because on this occasion she manifested her father's disposition rather than her husband's. In Saul's time people did not trouble themselves about the ark of the covenant (1Ch_13:3); public worship was neglected, and the soul for vital religion had died out in the family of the king. Michal possessed teraphim, and in David she only loved the brave hero and exalted king: she therefore took offence at the humility with which the king, in his pious enthusiasm, placed himself on an equality with all the rest of the nation before the Lord.

2Sa 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it - this was not the tabernacle of Moses, which was still at at Gibeon, where it continued to the time of Solomon, 1Ch_21:29; but this was a curtain, or curtains, which David had stretched out or drawn around for the ark to be pitched in the midst of; and this was not in his own house, for he is afterwards said to go to that, but somewhere in Jerusalem or the city of David:

in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it--The old tabernacle remained at Gibeon (1Ch_16:39; 1Ch_21:29; 2Ch_1:3). Probably it was not removed because it was too large for the temporary place the king had appropriated, and because he contemplated the building of a temple.

2Sa 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

He blessed the people in the name of the Lord - David acted here as priest, for it was the general prerogative of the priests to bless the people, but it appears, by both David and Solomon, that it was the prerogative of the kings also. He heartily and solemnly prayed to God for his blessing upon them: which he did both as a prophet, and as their king, to whom by office it belongs, by all means, to seek his people's welfare.

as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings - Or these were performed according to his order: The burnt-offerings and peace-offerings were offered to consecrate the newly erected house of God.

2Sa 6:19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

A good piece of flesh - The word thus paraphrased is only found here. A piece of meat from the peace offerings is probably meant. From the fact that the chronicler explains the preceding cake by the more common word loaf, but leaves this obscure word unexplained, one might infer that it was already obsolete and unknown in his time. The Septuagint translates it: “a cake baked on the hearth;” the Vulgate “a piece of roast beef.”

A flagon of wine - Rather, “a cake” of grapes or raisins Hos_3:1; Son_2:5, or made with oil or mead.

A flagon of wine - but what such a vessel held cannot be said, though at least we may suppose it equal to a bottle of ours, or more; see Son_2:5,

A cake of bread - Such as those which are baked without leaven, and are made very thin.

2Sa 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

Then David returned - He had passed his house to accompany the ark to the tabernacle he had pitched for it, when Michal saw him dancing. He now returns to bless his household. He had blessed the people 2Sa_6:18, but there were the inmates of his own house whom the customs of the age did not allow to be present, and so, with his usual considerate kindness and affection, David came to bless them also on this solemn occasion.

To bless his household - This was according to the custom of the patriarchs, who were priests in their own families. It is worthy of remark, that David is called patriarch by Stephen, Act_2:29, though living upwards of four hundred years after the termination of the patriarchal age.

How glorious was the king of Israel - which she spoke in an ironical jeering way, meaning the reverse, how inglorious, mean, and despicable he had made himself to be, by his airs and gestures: Proud of her royal extraction, she upbraided her husband for lowering the dignity of the crown and acting more like a buffoon than a king. But her taunting sarcasm was repelled in a manner that could not be agreeable to her feelings while it indicated the warm piety and gratitude of David.

Uncovered himself - We are only to understand by this expression that David had divested himself of his royal robes, in order to appear humble before the Lord, by assimilating himself to the condition of one of the priests or Levites. for we find that he was “girded with a linen ephod;” and consequently no part of his body was exposed, having only put off his outer garments. The terms uncovered or naked frequently mean no more than this in Scripture.

2Sa 6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

It was before the Lord, which chose me - David felt the reproach, and was strongly irritated, and seems to have spoken to Michal with sufficient asperity. He humbles Michal’s pride by the allusion to her father’s rejection, and shows by Saul’s example how little pride contributes to the stability of greatness. Therefore, for his part, he will not think anything done for the glory of God too mean for him; and if he cannot have honor from Saul’s daughter, he will be content to be honored by the maid-servants.

Exercises of religion appear mean in the eyes of those who have little or no religion themselves. If we can approve ourselves to God in what we do in religion, and do it as before the Lord, we need not heed reproach. Piety will have its praise: let us not be indifferent in it, nor afraid or ashamed to own it. David was contented to justify himself, and he did not further reprove or blame Michal's insolence; but God punished her. Those that honor God, He will honor; but those that despise him, and his servants and service, shall be lightly esteemed.

2Sa 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

I will yet be more vile - The plain meaning of these words appears to be this: “I am not ashamed of humbling myself before that God who rejected thy father because of his obstinacy and pride, and chose me in his stead to rule his people; and even those maid-servants, when they come to know the motive of my conduct, shall acknowledge its propriety, and treat me with additional respect; and as for thee, thou shalt find that thy conduct is as little pleasing to God as it is to me.”

I will yet be more vile - If this is to be vile, I will endeavor to be viler still; if to dance before the ark, and sing the praises of God, be reckoned a lessening of me, I will more and more be found in doing such things, or what is similar to them:

2Sa 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

Michal had no child to the day of her death - The children she brought up for Adriel were not her own, but adopted ones, or Adriel's by another woman, 2Sa_21:8; however, she had none after this time. And thus she that vilified David brought a reproach upon herself, as barrenness was always reckoned, and no one descending from her arrived to royal dignity, and sat on the throne of David; and so it was ordered in Providence , that the seed of David and of Saul might not be mixed.