Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 17:5

"for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another]." — 1 Chronicles 17:5 (ASV)

Since the day that I brought up Israel (Samuel adds, “out of Egypt”) until this day.—This construction, when compared with Samuel, is simplified, and the sentence is abbreviated.

But have gone ...—Literally, and I became from tent to tent, and from dwelling. This is clearly too brief for sense; some words must have dropped out, or the reading in Samuel may be original here.

The phrase “and I became” almost demands a participle, and the participle actually found in Samuel may be disguised here under the expression translated “from tent.” A slight further change in the prepositions would yield the meaning: “And I continued walking in a tent and in a dwelling.”

Perhaps, however, the original text was, “and I walked from tent to tent, and from dwelling to dwelling,” alluding to the various sanctuaries anciently recognized, such as Bethel (Judges 20:18, 26), Mizpeh (Judges 11:11; 1 Samuel 10:17), and Shiloh.

The word “dwelling” (mishkân) is a more general term than “tent.” It includes the sacred tent and its surrounding court.