2 Samuel 7:1-16

David Plans to Build a Temple

1 ¹Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

2 that the king said to ²Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in ³a house of cedar, but the ark of God ⁴dwells within tent curtains."

3 Nathan said to the king, "⁵Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you."

4 But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,

5 "Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD, "⁶Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?

6 "For ⁷I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about ⁸in a tent, even in a tabernacle.

7 "⁹Wherever * I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, ¹⁰which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' "'

God's Covenant with David

8 "Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "¹¹I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, ¹²to be ruler over My people Israel.

9 "¹³I have been with you wherever * you have gone and ¹⁴have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.

10 "I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and ¹⁵will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, ¹⁶nor will the wicked * afflict them any more as formerly,

11 even ¹⁷from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and ¹⁸I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that ¹⁹the LORD will make a house for you.

12 "²⁰When your days are complete and you ²¹lie down with your fathers, ²²I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 "²³He shall build a house for My name, and ²⁴I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever *.

14 "²⁵I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; ²⁶when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,

15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, ²⁷as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16 "²⁸Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever *; your throne shall be established forever *.""'

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2 Samuel 7:1-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 7

This chapter expresses David's concern for building an house for the ark of God, which he communicated to Nathan the prophet, and was approved of by him, 2Sa 7:1-3; and who was that night sent by the Lord to David, to acquaint him, that as he had for many years dwelt in a tent, and had never given directions to the tribes of Israel, and the rulers of them, to build him an house, so neither should David build him one; but his son that would succeed him in the throne should; and also observes to him the many great things he had done for him, and promises him more, and particularly the establishment of his throne and kingdom for ever, in which he has respect to the Messiah, that should spring from him, 2Sa 7:4-17. Then follows a prayer of David, in which he expresses the sense he had of the greatness and goodness of God, and of his own unworthiness to receive such favours from him he had, returns him thanks for the promises he had made, and prays for the performance of them, 2Sa 7:18-29.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 28

1. 1 Chronicles 17:1-27
2. 2 Samuel 7:17; 2 Samuel 12:1; 1 Kings 1:22; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29
3. 2 Samuel 5:11
4. Exodus 26:1
5. 1 Kings 8:17, 18; 1 Chronicles 22:7
6. 1 Kings 5:3, 4; 1 Kings 8:19
7. Joshua 18:1; 1 Kings 8:16
8. Exodus 40:18, 34
9. Leviticus 26:11, 12
10. 2 Samuel 5:2
11. 1 Samuel 16:11, 12; Psalms 78:70, 71
12. 2 Samuel 6:21
13. 1 Samuel 5:10
14. Psalms 18:37-42
15. Exodus 15:17; Isaiah 5:2, 7
16. Psalms 89:22, 23; Isaiah 60:18
17. Judges 2:14-16; 1 Samuel 12:9-11
18. 2 Samuel 7:1
19. 1 Samuel 25:28; 2 Samuel 7:27
20. 1 Kings 2:1
21. Deuteronomy 31:16; Acts 13:36
22. 1 Kings 8:20; Psalms 132:11
23. 1 Kings 6:12; 1 Kings 8:19
24. Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 49:8
25. Psalms 89:26, 27; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Hebrews 1:5
26. 1 Kings 11:34; Psalms 89:30-33
27. 1 Samuel 15:23; 1 Samuel 16:14
28. 2 Samuel 7:13; Psalms 89:36, 37

Footnotes 5

[a]. Lit "dwelling place"
[b]. Lit "sons of wickedness"
[c]. Lit "seed"
[d]. Lit "your bowels"
[e]. So with Gr and some ancient mss; M.T. "you"