he name, like unto the name of the great [men] that [are] in the earth; I have made thee a great prince and a celebrated com 10 mander. Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness, their idolatrous neighbours, afflict or distress them any II more, as beforetime, when the judges ruled, And as since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house, establish the 12 kingdom in thy family, from one generation to another. And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, one who is not yet born, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name and I will establish the 14 throne of his kingdom for ever, that is, for a long time. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men, with moderation and gentleness, suited to 15 human frailty, and as men are wont to correct their children. But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took [it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee; the kingdom shall continue 16 in thy family, and not be removed, as it was from Saul's. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee, thine eyes shall see it; and thy throne shall be established 17 for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David, with the utmost fidelity and impartiality. Thus God graciously softened the refusal, by the kindest promises and assurances of his own long continuance in earthly prosperity, of God's remarkable and long contin ued favour to his posterity, and that the kingdom of Christ should arise out of it.

Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, musing on his great goodness, and he said, Who [am] I, O Lord, GoD? and what [is] my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? 19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord God; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And [is] this the manner of man, O Lord Gon? to deal 20 so bountifully with obscure, undeserving men? And what can David say more unto thee? how can I utter my thankfulness? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant, acest the workings of 21 gratitude, which I cannot express. For thy word's sake, and ac cording to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things; all these promises by Samuel and Nathan are the effects of thy good will, to make thy servant know [them,] that is, how much thou hast loved me, and, as it follows, thy greatness and goodness.

It appears from v. 14. that this promise immediately refers to Solomon and his successor, but ultimately to Christ, who was the seed of David, Heb. i. 5. Christ should build a nobler temple, the church of God, and his kingdom shall be established for ever,

it Nathan was not ashamed to retract his own words, now he was taught better.

22 Wherefore thou art great O Lord God: for [there is] hone like thee, neither [is there any] God beside thee, according to 23 all that we have heard with our ears. And what one nation in the earth [is] like thy people, [even] like Israel, whom God went as it were from heaven to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, to let all the world know what a great and powerful Being he is; and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, [from] the nations and their god's? by the destruction of the Egyptians, and subduing the Canaanites before 24 you. For thou hast confirmed to thyself, entered into covenant with, thy people Israel [to be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God-After this thankful acknowl25 edgment David makes his humble prayer. And now, O Lord GOD, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish [it] for ever, and do as thou 26 hast said. And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God over Israel; and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee; he desires this, 27 not merely on his own account, but for God's glory. For thou,

LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found 28 in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. And now, O Lord GOD, thou [art] that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant: thus acknowledging 29 God's goodness, fidelity, and unchangeableness. Therefore now. let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken [it] and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. Through the whole of this prayer, David's heart seems so full of gratitude, that he cannot find words sufficient to acknowledge the goodness of God, or to express his assurance of his faithfulness.

1.

REFLECTIONS.

FROM hence learn,

can do for God and his worship. David was no sooner at rest, than he began to contrive what he should do to show his gratitude to God. He did not inquire how to provide portions for his children, or enlarge his dominions; but what he should do for God and his ark, and to promote his glory. When God remarkably favours us, we should inquire, What shall we render to him? When we are at rest, and can sit at ease in our houses, we should do so much the more for God and his house. Let us ever maintain a generous, public spirit, and always abound in good deeds for the house of our God.

2. It is our duty to animate others to holy duties and active ser vices, as Nathan commended David. Let us encourage their

good purposes, forward every good design, and thus provoke one another to love and to good works.

3. God's promise to be with his people, is very gracious and very encouraging. What is promised concerning Solomon, is applicable to all christians. God is their father; they are his children; if they are dutiful and obedient, they shall find him kind; if they commit iniquity, he will chasten them with the rod of men, of old men, who are remarkably tender to their children. We see here that afflictions are articles of God's covenant, and pledges of his parental love; he corrects with all tenderness and compassion, but does not disinherit us, does not take away his loving kindness. Let us there. fore honour our Father, and be in subjection to him, and live.

4. This example of grateful, humble, believing, fervent prayer, is worthy of our imitation. David's heart was full; he poured it out in broken accents; could not say too much to express his humility and gratitude. Warm affections should be working in all our devotions; and if the heart is deeply impressed, it will show itself. Out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh. Let us cultivate a fervent, devout spirit; then shall he that is feeble, be as David.

5. Low and abasing thoughts of ourselves, are especially proper when we are receiving peculiar favours from God. David was a man of very considerable rank, piety, valour, and prudence; but when he appeared before God, he said, Who am I? He was sensible of his meanness amidst the highest advancement. When God is remarkably kind, we should be remarkably humble.

6. The greatness of the divine favour to us, may well fill our minds with astonishment and surprise; that God should deal so with man, a mean, unprofitable, guilty creature, who deserves nothing, and has forfeited all. Is this the manner of man, O Lord God! to treat rebels and enemies so favourably? Lord, what is man, that thou art mindful af him? or the son of man, that thou shouldst visit him?

7. After the example of David, good men should be very much concerned to secure the blessing of God upon their families, and be grateful for every instance in which it is bestowed. The best entail is the blessing of God; and this should be diligently sought. Children should be instructed and prepared for it, and taught to value it, and seek it for themselves. David's prayer is a proper one for every head of a family to put up every day; it is the language of holy desire and humble faith. God's blessing is all in all to the happiness of our families; and if he blesses, we shall be blessed; for ́ whom he blesses, is blessed indeed.

CHAP. VIII.

In which is an account of David's success in five several wars.

ND after this, his resolution to build God's house, it came

them and David took Methegammah, or, the bridle of Ammah, out of the hand of the Philistines; it was a place of great strength, which was a curb on the country and towns under its jurisdiction. 2 And his second war was with the Moabites, and he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive.* And [so] the Moabites be3 came David's servants, [and] brought gifts. David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates. His third war was with the Syrians, Zobah lay northeast, and Euphrates was the utmost 4 bounds promised to Canaan. And David took from him a thousand [chariots,] and seven hundred horsemen, that is, ranks of horseman, having ten in a rank, which make up the seven thousand mentioned, 1 Chron. xviii. 4. and twenty thousand footmen : and David houghed all the chariot [horses,] but reserved of them [for] an hundred chariots, or rather, he destroyed all their char5 iots but an hundred. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of 6 the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.† Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus and the Syrians became servants to David, [and] brought gifts. And the LORD preserv7 ed David whithersoever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, or, with the servants, that were committed to their custody, being more for show 8 than use; and he brought them to Jerusalem. And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.

9

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When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all 10 the host of Hadadezer, Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And [Joram] brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass, as presents to David, 11 which were all put into the treasury: Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had 12 dedicated of all nations which he subdued; Of Syria, and

• Some suppose that those here mentioned were prisoners of war, and that he laid down this line of conduct, to destroy two thirds. But I rather think it refers to his destroying their fortifications and strong cities; and that he had two lines of conduct; the one was to put to death those that were obstinate, and refused the offers of mercy; and the other was, to save all that submitted, or that would have submitted if their officers and commanders would have given them leave. These became tributary, Numb. xxiv. 17.

†These were the northern Syrians, who came to help the king of Zobah. This was Da vid's fourth war.

of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, 13 king of Zobah. And David gat [him] a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, [being] eighteen thousand [men ;] here he commanded in person, and was particularly active.

14

15

And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons to keep them in subjection, and all they of Edom became David's servants; thus the elder served the younger, according to the prophecy in Gen. xxv. 23. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went,

And David reigned over all Israel without disturbance, and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people, he took 16 care that justice was regularly administered. And Joab the son of Zeruiah [was] over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of 17 Ahilud [was] recorder, or writer of chronicles ;* And Zadok the

son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, [were] the priests; and Seraiah [was] the scribe, or secretary of state; 18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada [was over] both the Cherethites and the Pelethites, old experienced soldiers, which were the life guards, and Benaiah was the captain of them; And David's sons were chief rulers, over the other officers, in places of the greatest authority and dignity.

REFLECTIONS.

not multiply horses and chariots; he destroyed them. This was contrary to human policy; but he depended on Jehovah for protection. This is a worthy example for all princes, and indeed for all men, to make God's will the rule of their actions; it is the wisest and safest way.

2. We may observe, that the wealth of sinners is often laid up for the just. These kingdoms were suffered to flourish long, that their wealth might all be drained for Israel. When wicked men prosper, the world often wonders; but at length the scene opens, and discovers that all is for the good of God's people, and the prosperity of the church.

3. Let us learn, from the example of David, to consecrate our best to God's service, and honour him with whatsoever he hath blessed us. All the spoils and presents of David were devoted to God, were preparations for the temple, to build and enrich that. He was not intent on enriching his palace, or family, and adorning his armory, but God's house. We should imitate his great zeal and devotion; and abound in works of piety and charity. Our

The eastern princes used to record all circumstances of note during their reign, and keep a daily journal. This was an important office, as those who filled it were let into all the secrets of state.

+ Some suppose, that Zadok was set up by Saul, when Abiathar fed to David; but proba bly these were two commanders of the priests, the heads of the two families, or courses, in which David divided them,