²¹And¹ what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, which thou redeemedst out of Egypt? ²²For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God. ¹ Or, _And who is like thy people Israel, a nation that is alone in the earth &c._ =21.= _what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel_] Better as margin, =who is like thy people Israel, a nation that is alone in the earth=. Compare Targum _a people unique and chosen in the earth_. ²³And now, O LORD, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as thou hast spoken. =23.= _be established_] Literally be made _Amen_ (i.e. “sure”). ²⁴And¹ let thy name be established and magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee. ¹ Or, _Yea, let it be established, and let thy name be magnified &c._ =24.= _And let thy name ... magnified_] Better, as margin, =Yea, let it be established, and let thy name be magnified=. _even a God to Israel_] delete as a dittography. ²⁵For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore hath thy servant found _in his heart_ to pray before thee. ²⁶And now, O LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: =25.= _hath ... found ... to pray_] i.e. hath found words and courage to pray. ²⁷and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O LORD, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever. =27.= _hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever_] 2 Samuel vii. 29, _thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it; and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever_. CHAPTER XVIII. =1‒17= (= 2 Samuel viii. 1‒18). A SUMMARY OF DAVID’S FOREIGN WARS. DAVID’S OFFICIALS. This chapter like the last is taken from 2 Samuel with a few omissions and variations. The Chronicler paraphrases (verses 1, 17), omits (verse 2), has a different reading (verses 4, 8, 10, 12). In some cases the better reading is in Chronicles.