2 Samuel 7:1-16

God’s Promise to David

1 After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him,

2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.”

4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?

6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.

7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’

8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.

9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.

10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning

11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders^[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:

12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.

15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me^[b] ; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

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.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 6:3; 1 Chronicles 17:1
• 2. ver 11
• 3. 1 Chronicles 22:18
• 4. 2 Samuel 12:1; 1 Kings 1:8,22; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29
• 5. 2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 3:1; 1 Kings 7:1,2,7; 1 Kings 9:1; 2 Chronicles 8:1; Jeremiah 22:14; Haggai 1:4
• 6. S Exodus 26:1; Psalms 132:3; Acts 7:45-46
• 7. S 1 Samuel 10:7; Psalms 132:1-5
• 8. 1 Kings 8:19; 1 Chronicles 22:8
• 9. 1 Kings 5:3-5; 1 Chronicles 28:3
• 10. Acts 7:45
• 11. Exodus 40:18,34; Joshua 18:1
• 12. 1 Kings 8:16
• 13. Deuteronomy 23:14
• 14. S 2 Samuel 5:2
• 15. 1 Kings 8:27; Isaiah 66:1
• 16. Leviticus 26:11-12
• 17. S 1 Samuel 16:11; 1 Chronicles 21:17; Psalms 74:1; Amos 7:15
• 18. S 1 Samuel 2:7-8; S 1 Samuel 9:16; S 1 Samuel 16:1; S 2 Samuel 6:21
• 19. Psalms 78:70-72; 2 Corinthians 6:18*
• 20. S 1 Samuel 18:14; 2 Samuel 5:10
• 21. Psalms 18:37-42
• 22. S Exodus 11:3
• 23. S Exodus 15:17; Isaiah 5:1-7
• 24. 2 Kings 21:8; 2 Chronicles 33:8
• 25. Psalms 89:22-23
• 26. Psalms 147:14; Isaiah 54:14; Isaiah 60:18
• 27. S Judges 2:16; 1 Samuel 12:9-11
• 28. ver 1
• 29. 1 Kings 2:24
• 30. 1 Samuel 25:28; Psalms 89:35-37; S Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 13:22-23; 2 Timothy 2:8
• 31. ver 27; S Exodus 1:21; Isaiah 7:2
• 32. S Genesis 15:15; 1 Kings 2:1; Acts 13:36
• 33. 1 Kings 8:20; Psalms 132:11-12; Jeremiah 30:21; Jeremiah 33:15
• 34. 2 Chronicles 23:3
• 35. S Deuteronomy 12:5; 1 Kings 6:12
• 36. Deuteronomy 16:11; 1 Kings 5:5; 1 Kings 8:19,29; 2 Kings 21:4,7
• 37. ver 16; S Genesis 9:16; 2 Samuel 22:51; 1 Kings 2:4,45; 1 Chronicles 22:10; 1 Chronicles 28:6; 2 Chronicles 6:16; 2 Chronicles 7:18; 2 Chronicles 13:5; 2 Chronicles 21:7; Ps 89:3-4,29,35-37; Proverbs 25:5; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 16:5; Jeremiah 17:25; Jeremiah 33:17,21; Daniel 7:27
• 38. Psalms 2:7; Psalms 89:26; Jeremiah 3:19; S Matthew 3:17; John 1:49; 2 Corinthians 6:18*; Hebrews 1:5*; Revelation 21:7
• 39. S Deuteronomy 8:5; 1 Kings 11:34; 1 Chronicles 22:10; Hebrews 12:7
• 40. Psalms 89:30-33; Proverbs 13:24
• 41. ver 25; 1 Kings 2:4; 1 Kings 6:12; 1 Kings 8:25; 1 Kings 9:5; 1 Kings 11:13,32; 2 Kings 19:34; 2 Chronicles 6:16; 2 Chronicles 7:18; 2 Chronicles 21:7; Psalms 89:24,33; Jeremiah 33:17
• 42. S 1 Samuel 13:13; S 1 Samuel 15:28; 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 15:23,28
• 43. Psalms 89:36-37; S Luke 1:33
• 44. Psalms 9:7; Psalms 93:2; Psalms 103:19
• 45. S ver 13

Footnotes

• [a] Traditionally "judges"
• [b] Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts "you"