(10) And since the time that I commanded judges.--Heb., from days that . . . Samuel, more definitely, "from the day that I appointed judges ever my people." This whole clause should not have been separated from 1Chronicles 17:9, which it properly concludes. The allusion is to the oppressions undergone in the period of the judges, and the troubles of the former reign.

Moreover (and) I will subdue all thine enemies.--A continuation of the promises at the beginning of 1Chronicles 17:9. "I will subdue the foes of the king, as I subdued the foes of the shepherd and the outlaw." (Comp. 1Chronicles 17:8.) Instead of this, Samuel has, "And I will give thee rest from all thy enemies."

Furthermore I tell thee . . .--Literally, And I have told thee, and a house will Jehovah build thee;" that is, I have foretold it. (Comp. Isaiah 40:21; Isaiah 45:21.) That which follows is a sort of ironical inversion of David's wish to build a house for the Lord. The term "house" is figurative (offspring), as in Psalm 127:1. (Comp. Genesis 30:3.) The reading of Samuel is, "And Jehovah hath [now] told thee [by my mouth] that a house will Jehovah make for thee." This looks original, with its rare construction of the perfect, which the chronicler has altered; its repetition of the most holy Name; and its less exact "make," which Chronicles improves into "build," with an eye to 1Chronicles 17:4; 1Chronicles 17:6, as well as to the play on the word (b?n?h, build; b?nim, sons).

Verse 10. - This verse should read on continuously with the preceding, as far as to the word "enemies." The time here denoted will stretch from the people's occupation of the laud to the death of Saul, as the expression, "at the beginning," in ver. 9, will point to the experience of Egyptian oppression. Will build thee an house; i.e. will guarantee thee an unfailing line of descendants.

17:1-27 David's purposes; God's gracious promises. - This chapter is the same as 2Sa 7. See what is there said upon it. It is very observable that what in Samuel is said to be, for thy word's sake, is here said to be, "for thy servant's sake," ver. 19. Jesus Christ is both the Word of God, Re 19:13, and the Servant of God, Isa 42:1; and it is for his sake, upon account of his mediation, that the promises are made good to all believers; it is in him, that they are yea and amen. For His sake it is done, for his sake it is made known; to him we owe all this greatness, from him we are to expect all these great things. They are the unsearchable riches of Christ, which, if by faith we see in themselves, and see in the Lord Jesus, we cannot but magnify as the only true greatness, and speak honourably of them. For this blessedness may we look amidst the trials of life, and when we feel the hand of death upon us; and seek it for our children after us.See Chapter Introduction