David gave orders to gather together the foreigners who were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to cut dressed stones to build God’s house.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 2. Proselytes. This is the first time that the word occurs in the Vulg. See Exodus 12:45. It means “strangers,” ( Calmet.) who were not allowed to live in the country, unless they would observe the natural law, and renounce idolatry. Rabbins.—These had embraced the Jewish religion. Menochius.—They were the remnants of the people of Chanaan, (3 Kennicott. 9:20,) and were treated as public slaves, which could not have been done, with justice or policy, with regard to those who might barely wish to reside in the country. These strangers prefigured the Gentiles, chosen to build the Christian Church.