Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 23:3

"The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spake to me: One that ruleth over men righteously, That ruleth in the fear of God," — 2 Samuel 23:3 (ASV)

The Rock of Israel. —Compare to 2 Samuel 22:3. A frequent Scriptural comparison, appropriate here, to show the perfect reliability of what God declares.

He that ruleth. —The English gives the true sense, but the original is exceedingly elliptical, both here and in the following verse. The fundamental point of all just government has never been more perfectly set forth: that it must be in the fear of God.