Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel - i:e., according to my ancient promise, which has already been so far fulfilled by their being put in actual possession of Canaan. I will, through thy agency, establish their national tenure of that land, as well as their national privileges, in spite of all the assaults of their enemies.
Neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them anymore х bªneey (H1121) `awlaah (H5766), wicked people] (cf. Psalms 89:22-24).
As beforetime - namely, Pharaoh in Egypt, and foreign conquerors in the troubled era of the judges. This promise or pledge of national security was of course suspended on the condition of their avoiding national rebellion and apostasy, and maintaining faithful allegiance to the law of God. The general purport of the communication was, that David's intention was approved of. But the time for carrying it into effect had not yet come. The humble tabernacle, with its curtained canopy, had been designed by Yahweh to educate His people-long familiar with the gorgeous temples and the sensuous religion of Egypt-in a simpler form of worship, and in more spiritual ideas of the Divine Being, ever present in it by His emblem. It must still be continued a while longer, until those important ends were attained. From the time of the judges until the death of Saul the government was uncertain and temporary; and when the kingdom, through David, should have become consolidated, there would be an abiding temple. There was another, and a personal reason, of a symbolical nature, disclosed in a subsequent communication made to David (see the notes at 1 Chronicles 22:8-9; 1 Chronicles 28:3), for delaying the proposed erection. Meanwhile, he might be assured of the presence as well as favour of Yahweh in the simple tent as in the magnificent temple.