John Gill Bible Commentary

How he sware unto the Lord, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob. Whom Jacob called so, Gen 49:24; and to whom he vowed a vow, and is the first we read of that did make one, and it was concerning the house of God, Gen 28:17; and who had an experience of the might and power of God in protecting and defending him from his brother Esau: of this oath and vow of David no mention is made elsewhere, but no doubt they were made; see Psa 119:106; of the Messiah's swearing, though upon another account, to whom this may be applied, see Isa 45:23. . Psalms 132:3 psa 132:3 psa 132:3 psa 132:3Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house,.... The new house and palace David built for himself after he came to the throne, made of cedar, Sa2 5:11; not that he should never enter into it till he had found a dwelling for God, but that he should not go into it with pleasure till that was done; for this and what follows are hyperboles, as Kimchi observes, and signify that he should have no peace nor satisfaction of mind till this was accomplished. It may be applied to our Lord's ascension to heaven, which was not till after he had purchased the church with his blood, which is the temple and habitation of God; nor go up into my bed; or "the bed that made for me" (r); the royal bed, a bed of down, with soft pillows, fit for a person of such dignity to lie down on. Ainsworth renders it "the pallets of my bed"; the phrase of going up agrees with the custom of the eastern countries, who have galleries in their chambers where they are set; at one end of each chamber in their houses there is a little gallery raised three, four, or five feet above the floor, with a balustrade in the front of it, with a few steps likewise leading up to it; here they place their beds (s); so that when they went to bed they might with great propriety be said to go up to it; but this David could not do with pleasure, so long as there was no place and habitation for God. (r) "lectum strati mei, vel stratorum meorum", Gejerus, Michaelis. (s) Dr. Shaw's Travels, p. 209. Ed. 2.