John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Also in time past, when Saul was king over us , etc.] Even over all the tribes of Israel: thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel ; that led out the armies of Israel against their enemies, fought their battles for them, obtained victories, and brought the troops under his command home in safety; and the remembrance of these valiant acts of his, which then endeared him to the people, was now another reason for their choosing him king: and another follows, the chiefest of them all: and the Lord said to thee ; when anointed by Samuel; for though what follows is not recorded in so many words, yet the sense of it is expressed in the anointing him to be king, whose office, as such, lay in doing the following things: thou shalt feed my people Israel ; as a shepherd feeds his flock; hence kings were frequently called shepherds, and David particularly, in which he was an eminent type of Christ, (see Psalm 78:71,72 Ezekiel 34:23,24) ( Ezekiel 37:24); and thou shalt be a captain over Israel ; the Targum is, “and thou shalt be king over Israel;” which gives the true sense of the tribes, and which was the chief and prevailing reason with them to make him their king; and which they, at least many of them, would have done before, even immediately upon the death of Saul, but that they were persuaded by Abner to yield obedience to Ishbosheth he set up.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-5 - David was anointed king a third time. His advances were gradual, tha his faith might be tried, and that he might gain experience. Thus his kingdom typified that of the Messiah, which was to come to its heigh by degrees. Thus Jesus became our Brother, took upon him our nature dwelt in it that he might become our Prince and Saviour: thus the humbled sinner takes encouragement from the endearing relation, applie for his salvation, submits to his authority, and craves his protection.
Original Hebrew גם1571 אתמול865 גם1571 שׁלשׁום8032 בהיות1961 שׁאול7586 מלך4428 עלינו5921 אתה859 הייתה1961 מוציא3318 והמבי935 את853 ישׂראל3478 ויאמר559 יהוה3068 לך אתה859 תרעה7462 את853 עמי5971 את853 ישׂראל3478 ואתה859 תהיה1961 לנגיד5057 על5921 ישׂראל׃3478
