Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me. — Comp. 1 Chronicles 11:2 and Notes. The Divine election of David preludes that of Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:5).
For he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler. — Better, For Judah it was that he chose for prince (nâgîd), and in the house of Judah, my father’s house. (Comp. 1 Chronicles 5:2 and Notes.)
And among the sons of my father he liked me. — The expression is scarcely adequate. The verb in the Hebrew is râçâh, which answers to the Hellenistic εύδοκεῖν, “to be satisfied, well pleased with.” Translate, therefore, “It was I in whom He took pleasure.”(Comp. Proverbs 3:12.) David uses of himself the very phrase which the Divine voice spoke from heaven at the baptism of the Son of David, the true King of Israel and of mankind (Matthew 3:17).