2 Samuel 7:9-19

9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land.

10 I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them,^[a] so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not afflict them as they have done

11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel.^[b] I will give you rest from all your enemies. " 'The Lord declares to you: The Lord Himself will make a house for you.

12 When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He will build a house for My name,^[c] and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me.^[d] When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod and with blows from others.

15 But My faithful love will never leave him^[e] as I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way.^[f]

16 Your house and kingdom will endure before Me^[g] forever, and your throne will be established forever.' "^[h]

17 Nathan spoke all these words and this entire vision to David.^[i]

David's Prayer of Thanksgiving

18 Then King David went in, sat in the Lord's presence, and said, "Who am I, Lord God , and what is my house that You have brought me this far?

19 What You have done so far^[j] was a little thing to You, Lord God , for You have also spoken about Your servant's house in the distant future. And this is a revelation^[k] for mankind, Lord God .

2 Samuel 7:9-19 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.

Footnotes

• [a] Ex 15:17
• [b] Jdg 2:14-16; 1 Sm 12:9-11
• [c] 1 Kg 5:2-5; 6:12; 8:18-19
• [d] Ps 2:9
• [e] Ps 89:21,28,33
• [f] 1 Sm 15:24-28
• [g] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read you
• [h] Ps 89:29,36
• [i] 1 Ch 17:3-15
• [j] Lit Yet this
• [k] Or custom, or instruction