On the character of the works alluded to, see Introduction to Chronicles.

Gad the seer - Gad is not given here the same title as Samuel. Samuel's title is one, apparently, of higher dignity, applied only to him and to Hanani 2 Chronicles 16:7, 2 Chronicles 16:10. Gad's is a far commoner title; it is applied to his contemporaries Asaph 2 Chronicles 29:30, Heman 1 Chronicles 25:5, and Jeduthun 2 Chronicles 35:15, to Iddo 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 12:15, to Jehu, the son of Hanani 2 Chronicles 19:2, and to the prophet Amos Amo 7:12. When "seers" are spoken of in the plural, it is the term almost universally used, only one instance Isaiah 30:10 occurring to the contrary.

The acts of David - first and last - Those which concerned him in private life, as well as those which grew out of his regal government. All these were written by three eminent men, personally acquainted with him through the principal part of his life; these were Samuel and Gad the seers, and Nathan the prophet. These writings are all lost, except the particulars interspersed in the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, none of which are the records mentioned here.

Now the acts of David the king, first and last,.... All that he did that was memorable, both before he was king, and when king in Hebron, and then in Jerusalem:

behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer; which were journals of his life and actions, begun by Samuel, and carried on by Nathan and Gad; out of which what is recorded in canonical Scripture was taken by divine direction, and preserved, while other writings are lost; or rather the book of Samuel designs the first book of Samuel, and the books of Nathan and Gad the second book of Samuel, by whom it was written.

On the authorities cited see the Introduction. וגו כּל־מלכוּתו עם goes with כּתוּבים הנּם: the acts of David ... are written ... together with his whole reign and his power, and the times which went over him. העתּים, the times, with their joys and sorrows, as in Psalm 31:16; Job 24:1. The kingdoms of the lands (cf. 2 Chronicles 12:8; 2 Chronicles 17:10; 2 Chronicles 20:29) are the kingdoms with which the Israelites under David came into contact-Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Aram.

Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of {o} Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer,

(o) The books of Nathan and Gad are thought to have been lost in the captivity.

29:29 The book - In the chronicles of the kingdom, which were written by Nathan and Gad, who were not only prophets, but historiographers out of which either they or some other prophets took by the direction of God's spirit such passages, as were most important and useful for the church in succeeding ages.

book: or, history: Heb. words

Margin book of

These books have perished.

This great assembly joined with David in adoring God. Whoever is the mouth of the congregation, those only have the benefit who join him, not by bowing down the head, so much as by lifting up the soul. Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord. Solomon's kingdom typified the kingdom of the Messiah, whose throne is the throne of the Lord.