The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 180

Nath&n's words. Here a veil ia partly by Oanaa.nites 11.nd Midie.nitee, by Philistines drawn over them. But it would be a wilful e.nd Ammonites? This miser&ble period is cl011ing of the eyes t-0 read this mese11.ge desoribed 88 "beforetime," and 88 "since and not bear in mind the olee.r light with the day that I commanded judges to bo w~ich every w~rd is illumined by the in- over my people Israel." And here a colon apired outpourmg of De.vid'a own heA.rt. should be placed; and the Hebrew will then He thoroughly undel'l!tood the fulneBB and proceed, "But now I have 011.used thee to blesseduel!I! of God's revelation, e.nd he.a rest from thine enemies:" the anarchy 0.nd te.ught UB that it all looked onward to its attendant wee.kuess is over; "o.nd J eho- Chri8t. vah telleth thee tho.t Jehovah will m&ke Vere. 10, 11.-J[oreover I will appoint .. . thee a house." Rest has been given; the will plant. For " moreover," the Hebrew establishment of David's family as the has "and." The tensee also continue the Messianic lineage is to follow (see on this same: "And I have appointed ... and promise, I Sam. ii. 85). have planted." It is all part of the eame Ver. 12.-Thy eeed . . . whioh 1hall pro- act. As regards the eeoond verb, the pest oeed. As the son is to be established in the tense alone makes eense. Jehovah was not 1,.-ingdom e.nd to build the house, he must be about to plant Israel in a place of their own, Solomon, who pl&inly, therefore, was noi as but had just done so completely. For yet born (see note on ver. l). David's kingdom had given them eecurity, Ver. 13.-I will establish the throne of his and with it the power of doing for God that kingdom for ever. The temple which Solo- duty which W1U1 Israel's specie.I office in the mon was to build was the symbol of the world. Had the anarchy of the times of new development of Israel, and naturally the judges continued, and the energies of the these words suggest e. wee.rung not unworthy nation been spent in a hard struggle for of so great an advance in the accomplish- existence, that rapid advane.e in literature ment of the n11.tion's mission. Had we, which followed upon the institution of indeed, only this pass11.ge, we might be con- Samuel's schools, and which filled David's tent to take it in e. popular sense, e.s signify- court with poets and chroniclers, never ing tbe.t, whereas Saul's throne· (11.nd sub- oould ha\'e existed, and prophecy would sequently that of the many usurpers in have been impossible. The age of Hezekiah Se.maria) bad but e. brief existence, Solo- was apparently the culminating period of mon's descendants should hold for many Hebrew civilization, after which came the centuries undisputed possession of the king- depressing influences of the Assyrian in- dom of Jerusalem. But in Ps. l:u:xix. 29 vaeioIIB, and then long exile, followed by we read, "His (David's) seed will I make a 110COnd weary struggle for existence. If to endure for ever, and hie throne as the writing was at first e. mystery and an art days of heaven." And again in vers. 36, 37 a known only to prie:;ts, it became throughout continue.nee is e.seured to it as le.sting as that the monarchy the possession especially of of the sun and moon. We can scarcely, there- the prophets, who were Iere.el's learned fore, be wrong in the conviction that these men. At the head of their roll stands the promises pointed onwards to the estu.blish- matchless Ise.ie.h, and to render it possible ment of Christ's kingdom, and that the great for his geniu5 to disple.y itself, not only importance attached to the building of the Samuel's schools, buttheeecurityof David's temple finds its explanation in its relation era of conquest, nnd the long peace and to him. This full este.blishment after so magnificence of Solomon's reign, were all long e. del&y of the Mosaic typical ritual, necessary. Wheu " God had given David the addition to it of psalmody, giving it a rest from his enemies round a.bout," he had spiritual side, and me.king the worship that thereby finally appointed e. place for Israel of the heart, the bestowal of empire, and and Lad ple.nted them there. There is, the rapid development of the people under perhaps, some difficulty in the verb-forms at David and Solomon, were e.11 steps in that the eud of ver. 11, but none in the meaning. wonderful series of special providences The reign of Duvid marks e.n ere. in the which made the Jews fit to be the pro- ne.tione.1 life. Under him Israel obtained genitors of the Messiah, which surrounded aecure poseessiou of the place e.ppointed for him during l,is ministry with companions it; lind now, having no longer to we.ste capable of understanding and recording his its energies in perpetual fighting, the teaching, and provided fOl" him, after his national life grows upwards, and e.ttains to death, missionaries, uot merely with zeal culture, to thought, and civilization. Cane.an enough, but with intellectual gifts sufficient is now tlieir own, and instead of being mere to enable them to persuade both Grecco and warriors, they develop Illl.tione.l institutions Rome to listen to tidings so wonderful o.utl e.nd a natione.l che.re.cler. What could men mysterious as that God for our salvutiou do that belongs to e. higher e.nd nobler life had become man. Keil also well points out wlw werto i.n daily fea.r of being swept awe.y that the temple was e. 11ymbol of Chri~t•s Oil. VU. 1-29.) 'l'HE SECOND :BOOK OF SAMUEL. 185