John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Howbeit, the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever , etc.] Passing by all his brethren who were elder than he, he pitched upon him, and ordered him to be anointed king of Israel, (see 1 Samuel 16:10,12), and that for ever, for a long time, as long as he lived; or rather in his posterity for many years to come, and best of all in his antitype Christ, the son of David, (see Luke 1:32,33) for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler ; the tribe of Judah to be the seat of government, and one out of that tribe to be the chief ruler, (see Chronicles 5:2 Genesis 49:10) and of the house of Judah, the house of my father ; out of that tribe he chose his father’s family, to take from thence one to be king of Israel: and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel ; though the youngest of them, ( 1 Samuel 16:11), this was his will and pleasure.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - During David's last sickness, many chief priests and Levites were a Jerusalem. Finding himself able, David spoke of his purpose to build temple for God, and of God's disallowing that purpose. He opened to them God's gracious purposes concerning Solomon. David charged them to cleave stedfastly to God and their duty. We cannot do our work as we should, unless we put on resolution, and fetch in strength from Divin grace. Religion or piety has two distinct parts. The first is knowledg of God, the second is worship of God. David says, Know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God is made known by his works and word. Revelation alone shows the whol character of God, in his providence, his holy law, his condemnation of sinners, his blessed gospel, and the ministration of the Spirit to all true believers. The natural man cannot receive this knowledge of God But thus we learn the value of the Saviour's atonement, and of the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and are influenced to walk in all his commandments. It brings a sinner to his proper place at the foot of the cross, as a poor, guilty, helpless worm, deserving wrath, ye expecting every thing needful from the free mercy and grace of God ou Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Having been forgiven much, the pardoned sinner learns to love much.
Original Hebrew ויבחר977 יהוה3069 אלהי430 ישׂראל3478 בי מכל3605 בית1004 אבי1 להיות1961 למלך4428 על5921 ישׂראל3478 לעולם5769 כי3588 ביהודה3063 בחר977 לנגיד5057 ובבית1004 יהודה3063 בית1004 אבי1 ובבני1121 אבי1 בי רצה7521 להמליך4427 על5921 כל3605 ישׂראל׃3478
