Matthew Henry

But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress,

“He expresses himself thus resolutely, to prevent the making of any intercession for the criminals by those about him, and thus piously to intimate that his dependence was upon God for the putting of him in possession of the promised throne, and that he would…”

How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and…

“Ish-bosheth was a righteous person, he had done them no wrong, nor designed them any. As to himself, David was satisfied that what opposition he gave him was not from malice, but mistake, from an idea he had of his own title to the crown…”

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years.

“At that age the Levites were at first appointed to begin their administration, Num. iv. About that age the Son of David entered upon his public ministry, Luke iii. Then men come to their full maturity of strength and judgment.”

So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces inward.

“The church is called Sion, and the city of the living God. The Jebusites, Christ's enemies, must first be conquered and dispossessed, the blind and the lame taken away, and then Christ divides the spoil, sets up his throne there, and makes it his residence…”

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David.

“Many have excelled in arts and sciences who were strangers to the covenants of promise. Yet David's house was never the worse, nor the less fit to be dedicated to God, for being built by the sons of the stranger.”

And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

“His kingdom was established, there was nothing to shake it, none to disturb his possession or question his title.”

After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him.

“We praise him not; we justify him not; nor can we scarcely excuse him. The bad example of the patriarchs might make him think there was no harm in it, and he might hope it would strengthen his interest, by multiplying his alliances, and increasing…”

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold.

“The kingdom of the Messiah, as soon as ever it was set up in the world, was thus vigorously attacked by the powers of darkness, who, with the combined force both of Jews and Gentiles, made head against it.”

So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

“God appoints him to draw back, as Israel stood still to see the salvation of the Lord. He promised him to charge the enemy himself, by an invisible host of angels,”

And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the…

“To think and speak highly of God. He is the name above every name, the Lord of hosts, that has all the creatures in heaven and earth at his command, and receives homage from them all, and yet is pleased to dwell between the cherubim…”

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.

“Philistines may cart the ark with impunity; but, if Israelites do so, they do it at their peril. And it mended the matter very little that it was a new cart; old or new, it was not what God had appointed.”

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.

“The critics are not agreed about the signification of the original word: They stumbled (so our margin); they kicked (so some), perhaps against the goad with which Uzzah drove them; they stuck in the mire, by some.”

And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

“He will let us know that he can and will secure his ark, and needs not any man's sin to help him to do it.”

Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.”

“It was an evidence that the ark was not such a burdensome stone as it was taken to be, but, on the contrary, happy was the man that had it near him.”

And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,

“It is a pleasure to a good man to see his errors rectified and himself in the way of his duty.”

and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

“The greatest of men is less than the least of the ordinances of Jesus Christ. (3.) He doubted not but even this would turn to his reputation among those whose reproach Michal pretended to fear: Of the maid-servants shall I be had in honour.”

he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

“Yes, but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. David told him, that by him he might know the mind of God.”

In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house…

“That worship only is acceptable which is instituted; why should David therefore design what God never ordained? Let him wait for a warrant, and then let him do it.”

Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be…

“He had raised him from a very mean and low condition: He took him from the sheep-cote. It is good for those who have come to great preferment to be often reminded of their small beginnings, that they may always be humble and thankful.”

But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way.

“This is that covenant of royalty celebrated ( Ps. lxxxix. 3 , &c.) as typical of the covenant of redemption and grace.”

Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.”

“David's house and kingdom have long since come to an end; it is only the Messiah's kingdom that is everlasting, and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”

So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision.

“(2.) These promises God faithfully performed to David and his seed in due time. Though David came short of making good his purpose to build God a house, yet God did not come short of making good his promise to build him a house.”

For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant.

“All was, (1.) For his word's sake, that is, for the sake of Christ the eternal Word; it is all owing to his merit.”

And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself?

“Whom those that were sent of God went to redeem; so the Chaldee, meaning, I suppose, Moses and Aaron. The redemption of Israel, as described here, was typical of our redemption by Christ in that, [1.]”

For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

“It was, [1.] Mutual: "They to be a people to thee, and thou to be a God to them; all their interests consecrated to thee, and all thy attributes engaged for them." [2.] Immutable: "Thou hast confirmed them."”