The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me. The epithet, "the Rock," applied to God, expresses His immutability and inviolable faithfulness (see the notes at 2 Samuel 22:3; 2 Samuel 22:32; 2 Samuel 22:47; Deuteronomy 32:4). A revelation made by the God of Israel, who is so unchangeable and true to His covenant promises, must have some reference either to the interests of Israel as a nation, or to their subserviency, in the economy of Providence, to the future well-being of the world at large. "Spake to me," may be rendered, 'promised to me.' [In this sense diber (H1696) is used, Deuteronomy 6:3; Deuteronomy 19:8, etc.]
He that ruleth ... must be just, х mowsheel (H4910), participle; a ruler, a prince] - applied to the Messiah (Micah 5:1).
Over men, х baa'aadaam (H120)] - over mankind, the human race (2 Sam. 13:44-45). The passage, according to the sense thus given to the words, will stand thus:
`The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel promised to me A Ruler, just (righteous), a ruler-fear of God (i:e., ruling in the fear of God).'
This was to be the character of the Uuniversal Ruler (Isaiah 53:11; also 2 Samuel 11:2-3). The foundation of His government was to be righteousness, founded on principles of pure and undefiled religion (cf. Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2).