2 Samuel 7 Footnotes

7:16 This important passage is the Bible’s earliest full statement about the enduring Davidic dynasty (but see Gn 49:10). Did God break his promise when he allowed the Babylonians to conquer Judah in 586 BC, ending the independent political rule of the Davidic kings? Although the line of David continued during Israel’s exile (2Kg 25:27-30) and afterward (Mt 1:12-16), the family dropped into obscurity after the governorship of Zerubbabel (Hg 1:1). But this passage can be understood as a messianic prophecy fulfilled by Jesus, who was of the line of David (Mt 1:17; Lk 1:32; Rm 1:3). God had promised through several OT prophets that the line of Davidic kings would one day be reestablished (Is 11:1; 9:7; Jr 23:5; 33:15-17; Ezk 34:23-24; 37:25; Hs 3:5; Am 9:11). With the coming of Jesus the Christ (Messiah, “anointed”), the ultimate descendant of David and King of the Jews (Mt 27:11,37; Mk 15:2,26; Lk 23:3,38; Jn 18:33-34; 19:19-22; Rv 17:14; 19:16), God fulfilled his promise eternally.