1 Samuel 2:35 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

A faithful priest, to wit, of another line, as is necessarily implied by one total removal of that office from Eli's line, before threatened. The person designed is Zadok, one eminent for his faithfulness to God and to the king, who, when Abiathar, the last of Eli's line, was deposed by Solomon, was made high priest in his stead, 1 Kings 2:27,35 1 Chronicles 29:22. That shall do according to that which is in mine heart; and shall not dishonour or disobey me to gratify his sons, as thou hast done. I will build him a sure house, i.e. give him a numerous posterity, as that phrase is used, Exodus 1:21 2 Samuel 7:11 1 Kings 11:38, and confirm that sure covenant of an everlasting priesthood made to Phinehas, of Eleazar's line, Numbers 25:13, and interrupted for a little while by Eli, and his, of the line of Ithamar, unto him and his children for ever. And this was manifestly verified until the Babylonish captivity, Ezekiel 44:15; and there is no reason to doubt of its continuance in the same line till Christ came. He shall walk, i.e. minister as high priest. Before mine anointed; either, first, Before king Solomon, who was anointed king, 1 Kings 1:39, and before the succeeding kings, who are commonly called anointed, or the Lord's anointed, as 1 Samuel 12:3,5 1 Samuel 24:6,10 Psa 89:38,51 La 4:20. Or rather, secondly, Before Jesus Christ; first, Because this title of Anointed, or Christ, or Messias, (both which words signify only the Anointed,) is most frequently and eminently ascribed to Christ, both in the Old and New Testament, and therefore it is most reasonable to understand it of him, when there is nothing in the text or context which determines it to any other. Secondly, Christ is the main scope and design, not only of the New, but of the Old Testament, which in all its types and ceremonies represented Christ; and particularly, the high priest was an eminent type of Christ, and did represent his person, and act in his name and stead, and did mediately what John Baptist did immediately, go before the face of the Lord Christ; and when Christ did come, that office and officer was to cease. Thirdly, The high priest is seldom or never said to walk or minister before the kings of Israel or Judah, but constantly before the Lord, and consequently before Christ, who as he was God blessed for ever, Romans 9:5, was present with, and the Builder and Governor of, the ancient church of Israel, as is manifest from Acts 7:35 1 Corinthians 10:4 Hebrews 3:3-6, and many other places; and their temple is particularly called his temple, Zechariah 3:1, because all the temple worship was performed in his presence, and had a special respect unto him, and therefore the high priest is most properly said to walk before him.