26. — when God helped the Levites] When God enabled them to discharge their duty without any gross error or disaster befalling them. Pyle. Or, when He encouraged them in their work with some comfortable sign of His approbation. S. Clarke. He is forbidden to build God an house, CHAP. XVI, XVII. but is promised blessings in his seed. ark of the covenant of the LORD Asaph and his brethren, to minister before the ark continually, as every day's work required: 42. And with them Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets] It should be translated, "And with them (Heman and Jeduthun) there were trumpets and cymbals." Bp. Patrick. Chap. XIX. ver. 7.—thirty and two thousand chariots.] The meaning must probably be, so many foot soldiers who fought in chariots; for no soldiers are mentioned; and at 2 Sam. x. 6, it is expressly stated that they hired 20,000 footmen of Zobah, and 12,000 men of Ish-tob, which together make up the number 32,000. Bp. Patrick. The words admit of being translated "thirty and two thousand with chariots." Dr. Waterland, Houbigant. Chap. XX. ver. 1. And it came to pass, that after the year &c.] In this part of the history, the account of David's adultery with Bath-sheba intervenes at 2 Sam. xi; but, as that transaction is there so fully related, it is in the book of Chronicles wholly omitted. Bp. Patrick. 3.—and cut them with saws, &c.] It is not said that David did thus to all the people, nor is any thing more implied than that he did thus to some of them; and it is certain, from 2 Chron. xx, &c. that he did not wholly extirpate the children of Ammon. It is probable that David was thus remarkably severe on some of the chil-  about 1031. a 2 Sam. 11. at the return of the year. about 1032. b 2 Sam. 12. weight of. 14. — in mine house and in my kingdom] It is very observable, that in the parallel passage at 2 Sam. vii. 16, God speaking to David says, "thine house" and "thy kingdom;" whereas here he says, "Mine house" and "My kingdom." This confirms what was there noted, that this passage principally refers to the Messiah, of whom David was a type and figure. Bp. Patrick. The general meaning of this passage (ver. 11—15.) is, That although, in order to shew David and the whole nation how little desirous God was of having a temple, David should not be the man to erect it, yet a commission to erect it should be given to his next successor, whom Providence would bless with a numerous royal issue, and from them would raise at the last that great Prince and Saviour, whose dominion was to be endless, and of universal benefit to mankind. Pyle. To which of all the sons of mortal man can this promise be judged applicable? Does it not naturally lead us to acknowledge that singularly illustrious Person who was also in a more eminent sense the Son of God? Dr. Berriman. 16. — David the king came and sat before the Lord,] 17. — and hast regarded me according to the estate &c.] In the parallel place at 2 Sam. vii. 19, instead of these words, it is expressed, "Is this the manner of men, O Lord?" The meaning is, that it was not after the manner of men to treat a poor shepherd as if he were a prince; but in this manner God had dealt with David. Bp. Patrick. In the remainder of this chapter the expressions are the same as at 2 Sam. vii, with the exception of here and there a little variation. Chap. XVIII. ver. 1. Now after this] This chapter is repeated from 2 Sam. viii, with some slight variations, as to names particularly. For instance, we have, ver. 1, "Gath and her towns," instead of Methegammah; also, ver. 8, "Tibbath and Chun," instead of Betah and Berothai; in all which cases we conclude that the places were called by different names. Bp. Patrick. He smiteth the Syrians. CHAP. XVIII, XIX. His messengers are evil entreated. Before CHRIST about 1040. Or, Hadarezer, 4.—that there arose war at Gezer &c.] At this place followed the several transactions and disasters of David's affairs for the space of about thirteen years, which VOL. I. are to be supplied from the second book of Samuel, from chap. xii. to chap. xxi. 15, &c. Pyle. Chap. XXI. ver. 1. And Satan stood up &c.] See the notes at 2 Sam. xxiv. 1. On the phrase "stood up against Israel," it should be remarked, that standing up was the posture of those who charged and accused any person of a crime in a court of justice; see 1 Kings xxii. 21. Thus the allusion here may be, that Satan is represented as bringing some sin to the charge of the Israelites, which he laid before God as a reason for punishing them. For this is the manner of the Holy Scripture, thus to bring things down, and accommodate them to the lowest capacities. Bp. Patrick.