*H And it came to pass when the king sat in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
Ver. 1. Enemies, before he had made war upon the surrounding nations. 1 Par. xviii. 1.
*H He said to Nathan the prophet: Dost thou see that I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God is lodged within skins?
Ver. 2. Nathan. An admirable courtier, (Grot.) and a great saint. Eccli. xlvii. He was neither too rough, nor too complaisant. — Cedar. This was the most esteemed species of wood. The palace of the Persian kings, at Ecbatana, was chiefly built of it, and of cypress wood. Polyb. x. — Houses were not there built in such a solid manner, as they are in colder climates. They consisted mostly of wood. — Skins. The outer veils of the tabernacle were made of skins, as others generally were. C. — Heb. and Chal. "of curtains."
* Footnote * 1_Paralipomenon 17 : 1
Now when David was dwelling in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet: Behold I dwell in a house of cedar: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under skins.*H And Nathan said to the king: Go, do all that is in they heart: because the Lord is with thee.
Ver. 3. Thee. David did not, perhaps, consult him as a prophet; and Nathan thought that the proposal was so just, that it might be safely carried into effect. The prophets are not inspired in all their actions. Joseph was of a different opinion from his father. Gen. xlviii. 19. Samuel supposed that Eliab should have been king; (1 K. xvi. 6,) and Eliseus confesses, that God had concealed from him the affliction of the woman with whom he lodged. 4 K. iv. 24. C. — God afterwards sent the same Nathan to rectify his former decision, that he might not pass sentence, in future, without consulting him. M.
*H In all the places that I have gone through with all the children of Israel, did ever I speak a word to any one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
Ver. 7. Tribes. 1 Paral. xvii. 6, by the substitution of p for b, reads Shophete, "judges," which seems more natural. Some farther information is there given and we learn that the reason why David was denied the privilege of building a temple, was because he had been so much engaged in war. C.
* Footnote * 1_Kings 16 : 13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward: and Samuel rose up, and went to Ramatha.* Footnote * Psalms 77 : 70
And he chose his servant David, and took him from the flocks of sheep: he brought him from following the ewes great with young,*H And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them, and they shall dwell therein, and shall be disturbed no more: neither shall the children of iniquity afflict them any more as they did before,
Ver. 10. Before, provided they be faithful. These promises are conditional.
*H From the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel: and I will give thee rest from all thy enemies. And the Lord foretelleth to thee, that the Lord will make thee a house.
Ver. 11. House, or give thee children, who shall hold the sceptre. M.
*H And when thy days shall be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of the bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
Ver. 12. I will establish his kingdom. This prophecy partly relates to Solomon; but much more to Christ, who is called the Son of David in Scripture, and the builder of the true temple, which is the Church, his everlasting kingdom, which shall never fail, nor be cast off for any iniquity of her children. Ch. — God passes over all the children whom David had already, 3 K. ii. 15. The temporal kingdom was enjoyed by David's posterity for a long time, sufficient to verify the expression for ever, as it is often used in Scripture. C. — But the spiritual kingdom of the Messias will last till the end of time, and be perfected in eternity. H. — In these predictions we must always distinguish the type from the reality. C.
* Footnote * 3_Kings 8 : 19
Nevertheless, thou shalt not build me a house, but thy son, that shall come forth out of thy loins, he shall build a house to my name.* Footnote * 3_Kings 5 : 5
Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will set upon the throne, in thy place, he shall build a house to my name.*H I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son: and if he commit any iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.
Ver. 14. Men, who are not to be entirely destroyed, like the Chanaanites. C. — This is not unlike the human temptation of which S. Paul speaks. 1 Cor. x. 13. See Ps. lxxii. 5. and lxxxviii. 33. H. — The rod of men denotes war, and stripes signify those punishments which God inflicts. S. Jer. Trad. — Some parts of this declaration regard Christ; others Solomon. Heb. i. 5. D.
* Footnote * 1_Paralipomenon 22 : 10
He shall build a house to my name, and he shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him: and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.* Footnote * Hebrews 1 : 5
For to which of the angels hath he said at any time: Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee? And again: I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?* Footnote * Psalms 88 : 4
I have made a covenant with my elect: I have sworn to David my servant:* Footnote * Psalms 88 : 37
His seed shall endure for ever.*H And thy house shall be faithful, and thy kingdom for ever before thy face, and thy throne shall be firm for ever.
Ver. 16. Faithful; or continue a long time. M. 3 K. xi. 38. — Where is not the house of David? or how is this accomplished, except in the Church? — Thy face. Sept. "before me," which is conformable to Ps. lxxxviii. 38. David saw Solomon on the throne, and beheld the Messias in spirit. C. — Souls departed still see what regards them, (Sa.) if they be happy. H.
* Footnote * Hebrews 1 : 8
But to the Son: Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of justice is the sceptre of thy kingdom.*H And David went in, and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?
Ver. 18. Lord. "More in soul, than by this posture of the body, remaining quiet in meditation and prayer." Cajet. — Vatable says only kings were allowed to pray sitting, (Sa. M.) and they must be of the house of Juda. Maimon. — They say the priests always stood in the temple. But Josephus mentions seats of lead for them. Bel. vii. 11. The Heb. expression may denote no more, than that David continued for a long time in fervent prayer; Josephus says, prostrate on the ground before the ark. It is not so much the posture of the body as the fervour of the soul, which God regards. See S. Aug. ad Simp. ii. q. 4. Pythagoras ordered his disciples to pray sitting; and Homer represents Thetis in that attitude. C. — Far, in power and glory. H.
*H Bur yet this hath seemed little in thy sight, O Lord God, unless thou didst also speak of the house of thy servant for a long time to come: for this is the law of Adam, O Lord God:
Ver. 19. God. Thus man wishes to be treated. This maxim prevails universally. People seek for their own and their children's happiness; a favour which thou hast graciously promised unto me. C. — Thus immortality, and all happiness, were proposed unto the first man. M. — Some use an interrogation; "Is this the law of Adam?" C. — Prot. "manner of man." Can this felicity attend a man in his fallen state? Does the greatest friend treat his companion with so much condescension and regard? H. — In 1 Par. xvii. 17, it is thus expressed, and hast made me remarkable above all men, O Lord God. Osiander translates, "Behold the law of man, of the Lord God." I now discern the mysterious union of the godhead with our humanity, in the person of the Son. C. — Luther attributes this version, Hæc est ratio hominis, qui Dominus Deus est, to Zisgler; and hence proves the incarnation. Amama and Tarnovius shew the weakness of the proof, though the article of faith be otherwise indubitable. H. — David is full of admiration that God should treat a weak mortal in such a manner. D.
*H And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord God:
Ver. 20. Unto thee. To express his sentiments of gratitude. M. — What more can he desire?
*H For thy word's sake, and according to thy own heart thou has done all these great things, so that thou wouldst make it known to thy servant.
Ver. 21. Word's sake. Some copies (H.) of the Sept. read "servant's sake," as 1 Par. xvii. C.
*H And what nation is there upon earth, as thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for them great and terrible things, upon the earth, before the face of thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thyself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods.
Ver. 23. A name. So that all might praise God, for the favours which he had bestowed upon his people, (H.) and admire his power and glory. — Gods, whom thou didst cast out of Chanaan. Par. C. — From, is not expressed in the Vulg. or Heb. though Prot. also supply it. H. — Some explain Elohim, "gods," of the chief men of the Hebrew nation. The power of the idols was overthrown; (Num. xxxiii. 4,) and the Israelites were rescued both from oppression, and from the service of false gods. Ezec. xvi. C. — Adonai is often substituted for Jehova; as appears from 1 Par. xvii. 21. 22. Kennicott.
*H And now, O Lord God, raise up for ever the word that thou hast spoken, concerning thy servant and concerning his house: and do as thou hast spoken,
Ver. 25. Raise up. As long as the promises were not fulfilled, they seemed to be dormant. M.
*H Because thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to the ear of thy servant, saying: I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee.
Ver. 27. In his heart. Lit. "has found his heart," (H.) following the inspirations of divine grace, to pray with attention and love, (C.) and confidence. H.
*H And now begin, and bless the house of thy servant, that it may endure for ever before thee: because thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
Ver. 29. Begin. Heb. "please, or deign to bless." Sept. and Jonathan, "begin." C.