the latter, also: 2. The prophecies were plainly delivered at different times and on different occasions; the former, probably about the fourteenth year of David's reign, "When the Lord had given him rest from all "his enemies round about:" the latter, about six years after, or the twentieth year of his reign, shortly before the birth of his son and successor, Solomon :-For, David was not elected king by all the tribes of Israel, until he had reigned seven years and six months over the tribe of Judah; after which, He besieged and took the strong fort of Jebus on the hill of Sion; He built the city of David, around it; He prospered and grew great, and built himself a house of cedar, or a sumptuous palace; he fought two pitched battles with the Philistines, and discomfited them; He removed the ark of God from Gibeah to Obed-edom's house; and after three months stay there, to the tabernacle which he had built for it in the city of David:- All these subsequent events could scarcely be comprised in less than six or seven years more; so that we seem to be warranted in assigning the former prophecy, in consequence

quence of David's intimation to Nathan of building a temple to THE LORD, (in, which he was unwittingly encouraged by Nathan,) to the fourteenth year of David's reign, or thereabout: but the latter prophecy expressly recognizes Solomon by name, and was probably given shortly before his birth; accordingly his name was called Solomon (peaceable): and THE LORD surnamed him “Jedidiah (beloved of the Lord) by the hand "of Nathan the prophet." 2 Sam. xii. 24— 25. But Solomon, at his accession, was

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young and tender;" 1 Chron. xxii. 5, and modestly styled himself" a little child" (in understanding), 1 Kings-iii. 7, and yet, his own son and successor, Rehoboam, was born the year before his accession: compare 1 Kings xi. 42, and xiv. 21: so that, both circumstances considered, we cannot deviate much from the truth, in dating this prophecy, and the subsequent birth of Solomon, about the twentieth year of David's reign; who reigned forty years in all; and consequently, Solomon was about twenty years old at his accession.

3. That David did not understand GoD's

gentle

gentle refusal, in the former prophecy,"Shalt thou build me a house for my dwell

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ing ?" or, as the interrogation is explained in the parallel passage, "Thou shalt not

"build me a house to dwell in," as an absolute prohibition, appears from his still meditating to build, and preparing materials, until the latter prophecy expressly rejected him as" a man of war that had shed much blood," and preferred his son Solomon; to whom, when GOD had marked his choice of the spot on which the temple was to be built, by "answering him by fire from heaven upon "the altar of burnt-offering," 1 Chron. xxi. 26, and xxii. 1. David then communicated the latter prophecy, near the close of his reign; and afterwards solemnly repeated it before all the congregation of Israel, shortly before his decease.

4

4. The former prophecy, in the first parenthetical clause, looks far into futurity, and the final destination of the people of Israel; promising them a flourishing settlement, an independent establishment, and permanent rest from all their enemies; such as they had not enjoyed from the infancy

of

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of their state-“ even from the day that I appointed judges over my people Israel”. nor ever have yet enjoyed unto the present day; but which it was foretold by Moses and all the prophets, should take place “in "the last days," during the reign of the MESSIAH upon earth; after a long-continued period of desolation. Compare Deut. xxviii. 59. Isa. vi. 11. Dan. viii. 13, 14. Hosea iii. 4, 5, &c. with Deut. xxx. 1-5. Nehem. i. 9. Isa. Ixvi. 19-22. Jer. xxiii. 5-8. Ezek. xxxiv. 23—31. and xxxvi. 24—35, &c. &c.

5. To the birth and character of this illustrious descendant, the prophecy next adverts with much solemnity.

"Moreover, the Lord declareth unto thee, "that the Lord will make thee a house: "when thy days shall be expired, and thou "shalt be with thy fathers, I will raise up "THY SEED after thee, which shall issue

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from thy bowels;" or, as explained in the parallel passage, "which shall be of thy “sons," or remote descendants; as the phrase is applied to Hezekiah's posterity; whose captivity is thus predicted above fourscore years before it happened: Moreover, of

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"thy

"thy sons, who shall issue from thee, whom "thou shalt beget, shall (the Babylonians) "take away," &c. 2 Kings xx. 18. And the passage is expressly understood of CHRIST by the apostle Peter, in that discourse, which was the first fruits of the Spirit, on the memorable day of Pentecost :

"GOD Sware unto David with an oath : "that of the fruit of his loins (according "to the flesh) He would raise up CHRIST "to sit on his throne," &c. Acts ii. 30. And it is truly remarkable, that as the term “Son" was applied to Solomon in the latter prophecy," Behold, a son shall be born to thee," &c. so, to mark the distinction, we may presume the prophetic term "seed," originally applied to the promised "seed of the wo

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man," destined" to break the serpent's head," immediately after the fall of our first parents, Gen. iii. 15,—and foretold by -sundry successive limitations, to be also "the "seed of Abraham"-" Of Isaac"-and "of “Jacob”—“ in whom all nations or families

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of the earth shall be blessed," as a Saviour and Deliverer from the bondage of Satan, and punishment of sin, Gen. xxii. 18, and