Page:02.BCOT.KD.HistoricalBooks.A.vol.2.EarlyProphets.djvu/880

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from the preceding לעשׂות by assuming a zeugma; for עשׂה, to do or make, has nothing in common with driving or clearing away.

Verses 24-26

2Sa 7:24-26“And Thou hast established to thyself Thy people Israel to be a people unto Thee for ever: and Thou, Jehovah, hast become a God to them.” The first clause does not refer merely to the liberation of Israel out of Egypt, or to the conquest of Canaan alone, but to all that the Lord had done for the establishment of Israel as the people of His possession, from the time of Moses till His promise of the eternal continuance of the throne of David. Jehovah had thereby become God to the nation of Israel, i.e., had thereby attested and proved himself to be its God.
To this praise of the acts of the Lord there is attached in 2Sa 7:25. the prayer for the fulfilment of His glorious promise. Would Jehovah set up (i.e., carry out) the word which He had spoken to His servant that His name might be great, i.e., be glorified, through its being said, “The Lord of Sabaoth is God over Israel,” and “the house of Thy servant will be firm before Thee.” The prayer is expressed in the form of confident assurance.

Verse 27


David felt himself encouraged to offer this prayer through the revelation which he had received. Because God had promised to build him a house, “therefore Thy servant hath found in his heart to pray this prayer,” i.e., hath found joy in doing so.

Verses 28-29


David then briefly sums up the two parts of his prayer of thanksgiving in the two clauses commencing with ועתּה, “and now.” - In 2Sa 7:28 he sums up the contents of 2Sa 7:18-24 by celebrating the greatness of the Lord and His promise; and in 2Sa 7:29 the substance of the prayer in 2Sa 7:25-27. וּברך הואל, may it please Thee to bless (הואיל; see at Deu 1:5). “And from (out of) Thy blessing may the house of Thy servant be blessed for ever.” David's Wars, Victories, and Ministers of State - 2 Samuel 8
To the promise of the establishment of this throne there is appended a general enumeration of the wars by which David secured the supremacy of Israel over all his enemies round about. In this survey all the nations are included with which