2 Samuel 7:18 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And sat before the Lord— Dr. Pococke, in his first volume, p. 213, has given us the figure of a person half sitting, and half kneeling; that is, kneeling so far as to rest the most muscular part of his body on his heels: which, he observes, is the manner in which inferior persons sit at this day before great men, and that it is considered as a very humble posture. Agreeably to which he informs us, in his second volume, p. 102, that the attendants of the English consul, when he waited on the Caiah of the Pasha of Tripoli, sat in this manner resting behind on their hams. In this manner, I suppose, it was that David sat before the Lord, when he went into the sanctuary to bless him for his promise concerning his family. Abarbanel, and some Christian expositors, seem perplexed about the word sitting before the Lord; but sitting after this manner was expressive of the greatest humiliation, and therefore no improper posture for one who appeared before the ark of God. Observations, p. 263.