From Tent to Tent and from Tabernacle. This means to say: “and from Tabernacle to Tabernacle”; but because it says “from Tent to Tent,” it relies on the reader’s understanding. The meaning of “from Tent to Tent” is: from the Tent of Meeting in the wilderness to Gilgal, from Gilgal to Shiloh, from Shiloh to Nob, and from Nob to Gibeon. In all those places, the altar and the Ark were under the cloths [of the Tabernacle]. And even when the Ark was in Kiryath-jearim, the altar was in Nob and Gibeon the entire time (2 Chr 1:3–5).

Any of the chieftains of Israel (shofetei Yisra’el). In the parallel verse in the book of Samuel [it says] “any of the shivtei Yisra’el” (2 Sam 7:7), because the chief official is called a shevet, as in “The shevet shall not depart from Judah” (Gen 49:10), and “your royal shevet (=scepter) is a shevet of equity” (Ps 45:7).

From the naveh (=abode). Folds for flocks are called a naveh, as the text says, “nevot (=abodes consisting of) shepherds’ dugouts and folds for flocks” (Zeph 2:6).

I will give you renown like that of the greatest men on earth—as it says, “David became famous throughout the lands, and the Lord put the fear of him in all the nations” (1 Chr 14:17).

Ever since etc. In the beginning [enemy nations] used to wear down [the Israelites]; and from the time I appointed chieftains over them, [enemy nations] would similarly cause them distress. Even though the chieftains would save them, they have not been fully at peace until now.

Thus far. For You have made me king even though I am belittled and despised (Ps 119:141).

**Yet even this has seemed too little for You—**to the point where You have spoken to Your servant’s house concerning the future. For You have promised to make my offspring kings after me forever, as it says, “I will install him in My house and in My Kingship forever” (v. 14).

You regard me as having the tor of a person of distinction. This means: You regard me as having the kind of great qualities that characterize a great person, even though I am belittled and despised. Tor has the sense of a set nature—as does “the torah of a person,” the formulation that appears in the book of Samuel (2 Sam 7:19). Similarly, “Your cheeks are comely with torim” (Song 1:10) refers to pearls that are neatly connected to one another according to a set arrangement.

Driving out, from the presence of Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt, nations. This won You renown as One who performs great and marvelous deeds; namely, Your redemption of them from servitude in Egypt and Your driving out nations—that is, the seven nations—from their presence. In the book of Samuel it says, “whom You redeemed from Egypt, nations and their gods” (2 Sam 7:23), which means either: from nations and from their gods, or: and You defeated nations and their gods.