(2) And David perceived . . .--And David knew that Jehovah had appointed him. The willing alliance of the powerful sovereign of Phoenician Tyre was so understood by David. The favour of man is sometimes a sign of the approval of God--always, when it results from well-doing (Genesis 39:21; Luke 2:52).

For his kingdom was lifted up on high.--Samuel, "and (he knew) that he had lifted up his kingdom." Perhaps our text should be rendered, viz., that his kingdom was lifted up on high."

Lifted up.--Aramaic form (nisseth).

Because of.--For the sake of.

On high.--A favourite intensive expression with the chronicler (1Chronicles 20:5; 1Chronicles 21:17, &c.).

Kingdom.--The Hebrew term (malk-th) is more modern than that in Samuel (mamlakh?h).

This verse helps us to understand how David was "a man after God's own heart." His innate humility recognises at once the ground of his own exaltation as not personal, but national.

Verse 2. - Was lifted up. The passage in Samuel reads נִשֵּׂא, the Piel conjugation. The present form is obscure, נִשֵׂאת. It may be considered either an irregular Niphal third pers. fem.; or Niphal infin, absolute (2 Samuel 19:43); or possibly even an irregular Piel form, in which case the pronoun "he" will need to be supplied as the subject. Supposing that any special connection subsists between this and the previous verse, it is not necessary to consider it remote. Then, as now, the building of a house for one's self, much more the building of a noble palace on the part of a king, is an indication of feeling settled and "confirmed." It was a partial indication of the "lifted-up kingdom" that the king should have a palace of unwonted magnificence. This must have weighed all the more in the case of a nation which, not for its sacred things, nor for its king, nor for its people, had ever had as yet any adequate and worthy housing,

14:1-17 David's victories. - In this chapter we have an account of, 1. David's kingdom established. 2. His family built up. 3. His enemies defeated. This is repeated from 2Sa 5. Let the fame of David be looked upon as a type and figure of the exalted honour of the Son of David.See Chapter Introduction