2 Samuel 23:3

2 Samuel 23:3

The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

a. NLT: The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God,

b. NIV: The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me: ‘When one rules over people in righteousness, when he rules in the fear of God,

c. Young’s Literal Translation: He said -- the God of Israel -- to me, He spake -- the Rock of Israel: He who is ruling over man is righteous, He is ruling in the fear of God.

d. Amplified Bible: The God of Israel spoke, the Rock of Israel said to me, When one rules over men righteously, ruling in the fear of God,

e. Septuagint: The God of Israel says, A watchman out of Israel spoke to me a parable: I said among men, How will ye strengthen the fear of the anointed? 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: The God of Israel has said—the Rock of Israel has spoken to me—“[Become a] ruler over men; a righteous one, who rules through the fear of God.

1. “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me…”

a. God [430 * ‘elohiym] [Strong: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

b. Israel [3478 * Yisra’el] [Strong: he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: --Israel.]

c. said [559 * ‘amar] [Strong: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

d. Rock [6697 * tsuwr] [Strong: properly, a cliff (or sharp rock, as compressed); generally, a rock or boulder; figuratively, a refuge; also an edge (as precipitous):--edge, X (mighty) God (one), rock, X sharp, stone, X strength, X strong.]

e. Israel [3478 * Yisra’el] [Strong: he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: --Israel.]

1). In Deuteronomy Moses referred to the God of Israel as a Rock, the true Rock.

a). Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.

b). Deuteronomy 32:18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.

c. Deuteronomy 32:30, 31  How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

32:31 For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges.

2. “…He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”

a. ruleth [4910 * mashal] [Strong: a primitive root; to rule:--(have, make to have) dominion, governor, X indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.]

b. men [120 * ‘adam] [Strong: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.):--X another, + hypocrite, + common sort, X low, man (mean, of low degree), person.]

c. must be just [6662 * tsaddiyq] [Strong:  just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).

d. ruling [4910 * mashal] [Strong: a primitive root; to rule:--(have, make to have) dominion, governor, X indeed, reign, (bear, cause to, have) rule(-ing, -r), have power.]

e. fear [3374 * yir’ah] [Strong: fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence:--X dreadful, X exceedingly, fear(-fulness).

f. God [430 * ‘elohiym] [Strong: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

1). Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsh: The justice of the ruler is founded in the fear of God.

2). John Gill Commentary: He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God; which is a character every king among men ought to have, administering justice to their subjects; ruling not only according to the laws of the land, but according to the law of God; having his fear before their eyes, and acting with a view to his honour and glory, whose vicegerents they are, and to whom they are accountable; they should rule with gentleness and humanity, considering they are men, and not brutes, they rule over.

3). I think that Gill is saying that if the laws of men are contrary to the laws of God they should follow the laws of God and not the laws of man.

3). Scriptures describing the fear of the Lord.

a). Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

b). Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

c). Proverbs 9:10, 11 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

d). Proverbs 3:7, 8 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

e). Proverbs 14:26, 27 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

4). An example of ruling in the fear of God was demonstrated by Jehoshaphat when he was king over Judah.

a). 2 Chronicles 19:4-7 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the Lord God of their fathers.

19:5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment.

19:7 Therefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.