2 Samuel 7:8-16

8 Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, ¹I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince^[a] over my people Israel.

9 ²And 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 ³and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place ⁴and be disturbed no more. ⁵And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

11 ⁶from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And ⁷I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that ⁸the Lord will make you a house.

12 ⁹When your days are fulfilled and ¹⁰you lie down with your fathers, ¹¹I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

13 ¹²He shall build a house for my name, and ¹³I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

14 ¹⁴I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, ¹⁵I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,

15 ¹⁶but my steadfast love will not depart from him, ¹⁷as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.

16 ¹⁸And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. ^{[b] 19}Your throne shall be established forever. ’”

2 Samuel 7:8-16 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. 7:8 1 Sam. 16:11; Ps. 78:70
• 2. 7:9 ch. 5:10; 8:6, 14; 1 Sam. 18:14
• 3. 7:10 Ps. 44:2; 80:8; Jer. 24:6; Amos 9:15
• 4. 7:10 2 Kgs. 21:8
• 5. 7:10 [Ps. 89:22]
• 6. 7:11 See Judg. 2:14-16; 1 Sam. 12:9-11
• 7. 7:11 ver. 1; See Josh. 11:23
• 8. 7:11 ver. 27; 1 Kgs. 11:38; [Ex. 1:21; 1 Sam. 2:35]
• 9. 7:12 [1 Kgs. 2:1]
• 10. 7:12 1 Kgs. 1:21; 2:10; Acts 13:36; [Deut. 31:16]
• 11. 7:12 1 Kgs. 8:20; Ps. 132:11
• 12. 7:13 1 Kgs. 5:5; 6:12; 8:19; 1 Chr. 22:10; 28:6
• 13. 7:13 ver. 16; Ps. 89:4, 29, 36, 37
• 14. 7:14 Ps. 89:26, 27; Cited Heb. 1:5
• 15. 7:14 Ps. 89:32, 33
• 16. 7:15 [See ver. 14 above]
• 17. 7:15 1 Sam. 15:23, 28; [1 Kgs. 11:13, 34]
• 18. 7:16 ver. 13; Ps. 89:36, 37; [Luke 1:33]
• 19. 7:16 ver. 13; Ps. 89:36, 37; [Luke 1:33]

Footnotes

• [a] 7:8 Or 'leader'
• [b] 7:16 Septuagint; Hebrew 'you'