The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Samuel — Section 183

We look upon Elijah as the very type of of" for thy land," which is omitted in tl,c Bternness, yet he too recognized the presence parallel passage. The nations which God or God in "the still small voice" of gentle- drove out had nothing to do with Egypt, but ness ond love (1 Kings xix. 13). were the seven dominant tribes of Cu.nao.n; Ver. 23.-And what one nation, etc.? The o.nd the bestowal upon Israel of their terri- tronslo.tion should be, And who is like thy tories was as essentinl a part of J chovah'• people, like Israel, the one nation upon earth dealings with hie people r.e the Exodns w/1ich God went to i·edeem for hi'111Belf to be itself. Thus the reading will be, To drive /iis people, and to make for him a name, etc. ? (!Ut before thy prople, whom thiYIJ, purcha,edat Isro.el both wo.s o.nd remo.ins to this day a. for thee /ram, Egypt, nations and their gor/'$. natiou unique in its history, both in those Ver. 24.-For thou hast confirmed. The eorly dee.ling~ of God with it, and also in word means "thou hast firmly and securely its lo.ter history o.nd its marvellous preser- established Israel to be thy people." This vation unto this do.y. It is remarko.ble thilt plainly refers to the settlement in Cannan, in this place the word for "God," Elohim, is now at last completed by David's victories, followed by e. verb plural, the almost in- nnd not to the deliverance from Egypt. variable rule in Hebrew being that, though In the words that follow Da.vid recognizes Elohim is itself plural, it takes e. verb the spiritual importance, not only of tlle singular whenever it refers to the true permanent continuance of his house, but Gou. In the corresponding passage (1 also of the empire given unto him. For Chron. xvii. 21) the verb is in the singular. Israel is now to be a people for ev~r: and No adequo.te reason has been given for this thou, ;Jehovah, art become their God. It is devio.tion, but probably the usage in these very necessary to retain here the personal early times was not so strict as it became name, Jehovah, as it is in the Hebrew, and subsequently. It is the influence of writing, not dilute it down to the Lord of the Sep- and of the eye becoming conversant with tuagint. For now, to Da,id's mind, the writing, that makes men correct in their covenant seemed complete, ond ratified for use of langunge and in the spelling of ever. Israel is to have au everlasting words. In the Syl'iac Church, God the existence-a promise belonging to it in it.. Word a.nd God the Holy Ghost were at full sense only spiritually. For 11.S Ion;; oe first spoken of in the feminine gender, be- the world lasts, it is ag9,inst the spiritual cause •• Wo1·d" and" Spirit" are both femi- Israel that the gates of hell shall never nine nouns; bnt grammar soon gave way to prevail. And next, first as the theocratic soundness of thought and feeling. So prob- people, and then a.s the Church, it is to hold ably in colloquial language Elohim was a unique relation to Jehovah, who is to be often used with e. verb plural, but correct its God. For Israel, that is, the Jewish and thinking forbade 1LDd overruled grammar. the Christian Church, worships, not the God We may regard this, then, as one of the few • of nature, Elohim, but Jehouah, the God of passages in which the colloquial usage bas grace; and they learn his attributes, not escaped correction, and o.ttach no further im- from philosophy, nor by metaphysical in- porta.nce to it. For you. "You" is pluro.l, quiry, but from his own revealed will, iu e.nd refers to the people. The Vulgote has which he teaches us wl.Jat he is, wbnt we "for them," which is in o.ccordance with are, nnd how we are to become one with the greater exactness of modern grnmmo.r. him. But sudden changes of person a.re very Vers. 25, 26.-And now, 0 Lord God; common in Hebre,v, which follows the rules Hebrew, Jehovah God. Similorlv, in ver. 2G of thought rather than of written composi- the Hebrew is "Let thy Name' be magni- tion : o.nd so David speaks of Israel 11.s you, fied for ever, saying, Jehovah Sabaoth is because tl..tey seemed to him to be present. God over Israel." The special relation of We must note, however, tbnt in the words J ehovo.h to Israel is throughout kept con- that follow, for thy land, and thy people, stantly in view; for Jehovah is tbe Kame the pronoun is singular, o.nd refers to God. of Deity in covenant with bis people, and From the nations and their gods. Both the it is in the confirmation and permunence Authorized Version and the Revised Version, of the covenant that Da,·id sees the true by inserting "from," which is not in the valua of the lasting coutiuuance of hfa owu Hebrew, to.ke "nntions" as in npposition with house. " Egypt; " . but 11 ·moment's consideration Ver. 27.-Thou hast revealed to thy ser- Ahows thnt this is untennble, 11s "n11tious" vant; Hebrew, thou ha6t uncovered the ea·r is plul'lll. But the whole verso is so full of thy serfJant. (see note on 1 Sam. ix. 15). of grnrnmntical difficulties 11s to mo.ke it :Kath thy servant found in his heart; lie brew, extremely prob11ble that the text is oorrupt, l1atl1 jound his heart. 'l'he word "ileurt" and that Wfl ought to supply tho verb "to has I\ wide meaning iu Hebrew, erubr,\ciug <lri \'C out," which is 11.ctuo.lly rco.il iu 1 Cbron. both our intcllect,rnl aud our morn! power,i. xvii. 21 1 or even to su 1retitutc it in tilo place Here it simply mrl\llS ,; cournge," us in  188 THE SECOND BOOK. OF SAMUEL, [ott. vn. 1-29.