Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD; and he said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me this far?
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 18. Lord. “More in soul, than by this posture of the body, remaining quiet in meditation and prayer.” Cajet.—Vatable says only kings were allowed to pary sitting, (Sa. Menochius.) and they must be of the house of Juda. Maimon.—they say the priests always stood in the temple. But Josephus mentions seats of lead for them. Bel. vii. 11. The Hebrew expression may denote no more, than that David continued for a long time in fervent prayer; Josephus says, prostrate on the ground before the ark. It is not so much the posture of the body as the fervour of the soul, which God regards. See Saint Augustine ad Simp. ii. q. 4. Pythagoras ordered his disciples to pray sitting; and Homer represents Thetis in that attitude. Calmet.—Far, in power and glory. Bible.
The word translated “Lord” is “Adonai.”