1 Chronicles 18
PATthe Word of God: and by way of eminence is railed his servant, Isa. xiii. 1. xlix. 5; * •
1 Chronicles 18:1
l\OW after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines:. This chapter hath been fully explained in 2 Sam. viii, AVhat differences there arc in any expression is there noted, and an account given of them, to which I refer the reader. Only it may be observed upon this verse, that in the book of Samuel it is said, he took Methcg-ammah out of their hand; but here Gath and her towns: which are all one in Abarbinel’s account, who takes Methcg-ammah for a. region^or province, which comprehended Gath and her towns. AVc may observe also in ver. 1J. the great piety of David, who had in his heart to build a splendid house for God’s habitation: and when he was prohibited by God to do it (because he had been engaged in so many wars, and shed a great deal of blood), he could not satisfy himself without doing something towards it: by preparing materials for it, and consecrating a great deal of treasure to be employed in the huilding> and to no other use. For that is the meaning of what is here said, That he dedicated unto the Lord the gold and silver which he brought from several nations: that is, he consecrated, or Solemnly deputed them to this holy use, that it might not be lawful hereafter to employ them to any other.
1 Chronicles 18:16
It is observed by Drusius, that there were two Ahimelechs; one the gfandson of Ahitub, the other the son of Abiathar: “who, by the change of a letter, is here called Abimelech. (Miscel. Gent. i. cap. 46.)‘v y *’ * *’•
O Lord; there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that toe have heard with our ears. This is more fully expressed in 2 Sam. vii. 22. w…
And ivhat one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God’ went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleriess, by driving out nations from before thy people; whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?] See 2 Sam. vii. 23. As in the former verse he acknowledges his happiness, in being beloved of God; so in this, the great honour God had done him, in making him king of such a peopled -
For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou^ Lord, becafnest their GodJ. See there, ver. 24.
Therefore now, Lotd, let the thing that. than hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for evet; and do as thou hast said. See ver; 25..Ver* 24. Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever ^saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel,’even a God to Israel; -and let the Muse of. David thy servant be established before thee.’] See, ver. 20. where the same thing is said, only the title of God is a little here enlarged. For there it is only said, The Lord of hosts is the -God of Israel; but here, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel/even a God to Israel. Or, as it may be translated, The Lord of hosts the God of Israel, is a God to Israel; that is, most gradous and merciful, as appeared in many things^ particularly in bestowing such a king upon them.
For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant, that thou wilt build him a house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. See there, ver. 27. Ver. 2G. And now, Lord, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant.] See veir. 28.
Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever. This is delivered a little more largely in 2 Sam. vii. 29. (See there.) )