_morning and evening_] Exodus xxix. 38, 39 (= Numbers xxviii. 3, 4). ⁴¹and with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because his mercy _endureth_ for ever; =41.= _Jeduthun_] Psalms xxxix., lxii., lxxvii. (titles). In vi. 33‒47, xv. 17, 19 the names of the leading singers are given as _Heman_, _Asaph_, and _Ethan_. Here and in xxv. 1 ff. however _Jeduthun_ seems to take the place of _Ethan_. Probably there was a variation in the tradition as to the third name, two families competing each for the honour of its own ancestor. ⁴²and with them Heman and Jeduthun _with_ trumpets and cymbals for those that should sound aloud, and _with_ instruments for the songs of God: and the sons of Jeduthun to be at the gate. ⁴³And all the people departed every man to his house: and David returned to bless his house. =42.= _and with them_, etc.] The words _with them_ are possibly repeated in error from verse 41. Render perhaps, =And Heman and Jeduthun had trumpets and cymbals=. For _trumpets_ compare xv. 24 (note). _sons of Jeduthun_] Perhaps a gloss connected with the statement in verse 38, where see note on _Obed-edom also the son of Jeduthun_. _to be at the gate_] David’s organisation of the doorkeepers is given in xxvi. 1‒19. CHAPTER XVII. =1‒27= (= 2 Samuel vii. 1‒29). GOD’S ANSWER TO DAVID’S EXPRESSED DESIRE TO BUILD A TEMPLE. DAVID’S THANKSGIVING. This passage is a reproduction with some omissions and variations of 2 Samuel vii. The text is generally smoother in Chronicles, and in some cases (e.g. in verse 6) we cannot doubt that the Chronicler has preserved an older and better reading than the present text of Samuel, whilst in other instances the Chronicler has consciously emended his text of Samuel. ¹And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD _dwelleth_ under curtains. =1.= _in his house_] Samuel adds, _and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies round about_. The Chronicler omits these words probably because his next three chapters (xviii.‒xx.) are devoted to wars (compare 2 Samuel viii. and x.). _Nathan_] The prophet of the court in the reign of David: see e.g. 2 Samuel xii.; 1 Kings i. _the ark of the covenant_] So called because it contained the two tables of the covenant, 1 Kings viii. 9. ²And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee. =2.= _in thine heart_] The heart according to Hebrew thought is the seat of intention and purpose. ³And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, ⁴Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: