And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent.
David made him houses in the city of David. Through the liberality of his Tyrian ally (1 Chronicles 14:1), David was enabled to erect not only a palace for himself, but to furnish suitable accommodation for his numerous family. Where polygamy prevails, each wife has a separate house, or suite of apartments, for herself and children.
Prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent - i:e., made an entirely new one upon the model of the former, the old tabernacle, which Moses had constructed in the wilderness, and which had hitherto served the purpose of a sacred covering, being to be left at Gibeon, in consequence either of the unwillingness of the inhabitants to part with such a venerable relic, or of there being no use for it in Jerusalem, where a more solid and sumptuous edifice was contemplated. If it appear surprising that David "made him houses" before he prepared this new tabernacle, it should be remembered that he had received no divine intimation rendering such a work.