20 O LORD, H3068 there is none like thee, neither is there any God H430 beside H2108 thee, according to all that we have heard H8085 with our ears. H241
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 the King H4428 of Israel, H3478 and his redeemer H1350 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 I am the first, H7223 and I am the last; H314 and beside H1107 me there is no God. H430
Now G1161 unto him that is able G1410 to do G4160 exceeding G5228 abundantly G1537 G4053 above G5228 all G3956 that G3739 we ask G154 or G2228 think, G3539 according to G2596 the power G1411 that worketh G1754 in G1722 us, G2254
Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; H3068 thou art great, H1419 and thy name H8034 is great H1419 in might. H1369 Who would not fear H3372 thee, O King H4428 of nations? H1471 for to thee doth it appertain: H2969 forasmuch as among all the wise H2450 men of the nations, H1471 and in all their kingdoms, H4438 there is none like unto thee.
Look H6437 unto me, and be ye saved, H3467 all the ends H657 of the earth: H776 for I am God, H410 and there is none else.
I am the LORD, H3068 and there is none else, there is no God H430 beside H2108 me: I girded H247 thee, though thou hast not known H3045 me:
To whom then will ye liken H1819 me, or shall I be equal? H7737 saith H559 the Holy One. H6918
To whom then will ye liken H1819 God? H410 or what likeness H1823 will ye compare H6186 unto him?
For who in the heaven H7834 can be compared H6186 unto the LORD? H3068 who among the sons H1121 of the mighty H410 can be likened H1819 unto the LORD? H3068
Among the gods H430 there is none like unto thee, O Lord; H136 neither are there any works like unto thy works. H4639
Which we have heard H8085 and known, H3045 and our fathers H1 have told H5608 us. We will not hide H3582 them from their children, H1121 shewing H5608 to the generation H1755 to come H314 the praises H8416 of the LORD, H3068 and his strength, H5807 and his wonderful works H6381 that he hath done. H6213
[[To the chief Musician H5329 for the sons H1121 of Korah, H7141 Maschil.]] H4905 We have heard H8085 with our ears, H241 O God, H430 our fathers H1 have told H5608 us, what work H6467 thou didst H6466 in their days, H3117 in the times H3117 of old. H6924
Know H3045 therefore this day, H3117 and consider H7725 it in thine heart, H3824 that the LORD H3068 he is God H430 in heaven H8064 above, H4605 and upon the earth H776 beneath: there is none else.
Unto thee it was shewed, H7200 that thou mightest know H3045 that the LORD H3068 he is God; H430 there is none else H5750 beside him. H905
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 17
1Ch 17:1-10. David Forbidden to Build God a House.
1. as David sat in his house—The details of this chapter were given in nearly similar terms (2Sa 7:1-29). The date was towards the latter end of David's reign, for it is expressly said in the former book to have been at the cessation of all his wars. But as to narrate the preparations for the removal of the ark and the erection of the temple was the principal object of the historian, the exact chronology is not followed.
5. I … have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another—The literal rendering is, "I was walking in a tent and in a dwelling." The evident intention (as we may see from 1Ch 17:6) was to lay stress upon the fact that God was a Mithhatlek (a travelling God) and went from one place to another with His tent and His entire dwelling (the dwelling included not merely the tent, but the fore-courts with the altar of burnt offerings, &c.) [Bertheau].
6. spake I a word to any of the judges—In 2Sa 7:7 it is "any of the tribes" of Israel. Both are included. But the judges "who were commanded to feed the people," form the more suitable antithesis to David.
Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?—that is, a solid and magnificent temple.
7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote—a round tower of rude construction, high walled, but open at the top, in which sheep are often enclosed at night to protect them from wild beasts. The meaning is, I elevated you to the throne from a humble condition solely by an act of divine grace, and not from any antecedent merits of your own (see on 1Sa 16:11), and I enabled you to acquire renown, equal or superior to any other monarch. Your reign will ever be afterwards regarded as the best and brightest era in the history of Israel, for it will secure to the nation a settled inheritance of prosperity and peace, without any of the oppressions or disorders that afflicted them in early times.
9, 10. at the beginning, and since the time that I commanded judges—that is, including the whole period from Joshua to Saul.
I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house—This was the language of Nathan himself, who was specially directed to assure David, not only of personal blessing and prosperity, but of a continuous line of royal descendants.
11. I will raise up thy seed—(See on 2Sa 7:12).
13. I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee—My procedure in dealing with him will be different from My disposal of Saul. Should his misconduct call for personal chastisement, I shall spare his family. If I see it necessary to withdraw My favor and help for a time, it will be a corrective discipline only to reform and restore, not to destroy. (On this passage some have founded an argument for Solomon's repentance and return to God).
14. I will settle him in my house—over My people Israel.
and in my kingdom for ever—God here asserts His right of supreme sovereignty in Israel. David and Solomon, with their successors, were only the vicegerents whom He nominated, or, in His providence, permitted.
his throne shall be established for evermore—The posterity of David inherited the throne in a long succession—but not always. In such a connection as this, the phrase "for evermore" is employed in a restricted sense (see on La 3:31). We naturally expect the prophet to revert to David before concluding, after having spoken (1Ch 17:12) of the building of Solomon's temple. The promise that his house should be blessed was intended as a compensation for the disappointment of his wish to build the temple, and hence this assurance is appropriately repeated at the conclusion of the prophet's address [Bertheau].
15. According to all … this vision—The revelation of the divine will was made to the prophet in a dream.
16. David the king … sat before the Lord, and said—(See on 2Sa 7:18).