2 Samuel 7:4-16

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

5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD: ¹Would you build me a house to dwell in?

6 I have not lived in a house ²since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about ³in a tent for my dwelling.

7 In all places where ⁴I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with ⁵any of the judges^[a] of Israel, whom I commanded ⁶to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'

8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, ⁷I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.

9 ⁸And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.

10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel ⁹and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place ¹⁰and be disturbed no more. ¹¹And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

11 ¹²from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And ¹³I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that ¹⁴the LORD will make you a house.

12 ¹⁵When your days are fulfilled and ¹⁶you lie down with your fathers, ¹⁷I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 ¹⁸He shall build a house for my name, and ¹⁹I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 ²⁰I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, ²¹I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

15 ²²but my steadfast love will not depart from him, ²³as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

16 ²⁴And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.^[b]25 Your throne shall be established forever.'"

2 Samuel 7:4-16 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. 1 Kings 5:3; 1 Kings 8:19; 1 Chronicles 22:8; 1 Chronicles 28:3
• 2. 1 Kings 8:16
• 3. Ex. 40:18, 19, 34
• 4. Leviticus 26:11, 12; Deuteronomy 23:14
• 5. [1 Chronicles 17:6]
• 6. See 2 Samuel 5:2
• 7. 1 Samuel 16:11; Psalms 78:70
• 8. 2 Samuel 5:10; 2 Samuel 8:6, 14; 1 Samuel 18:14
• 9. Psalms 44:2; Psalms 80:8; Jeremiah 24:6; Amos 9:15
• 10. 2 Kings 21:8
• 11. [Psalms 89:22]
• 12. See Judges 2:14-16; 1 Samuel 12:9-11
• 13. ver. 1; See Joshua 11:23
• 14. ver. 27; 1 Kings 11:38; [Exodus 1:21; 1 Samuel 2:35]
• 15. [1 Kings 2:1]
• 16. 1 Kings 1:21; 1 Kings 2:10; Acts 13:36; [Deuteronomy 31:16]
• 17. 1 Kings 8:20; Psalms 132:11
• 18. 1 Kings 5:5; 1 Kings 6:12; 1 Kings 8:19; 1 Chronicles 22:10; 1 Chronicles 28:6
• 19. ver. 16; Ps. 89:4, 29, 36, 37
• 20. Psalms 89:26, 27; Cited Hebrews 1:5
• 21. Psalms 89:32, 33
• 22. [See ver. 14 above]
• 23. 1 Samuel 15:23, 28; [1 Kings 11:13, 34]
• 24. ver. 13; Psalms 89:36, 37; [Luke 1:33]
• 25. ver. 13; Psalms 89:36, 37; [Luke 1:33]

Footnotes

• [a]. Compare 1 Chronicles 17:6; Hebrew tribes
• [b]. Septuagint; Hebrew you