2 Samuel 7:1-16

Yahweh Makes a Covenant with David

1 It happened that the king settled in his house. (Now Yahweh had given rest to him from all his enemies all around.)

2 And the king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, please, I [am] living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God [is] staying in the middle of the tent."

3 Nathan said to the king, "Go and do all that [is] in your heart, for Yahweh [is] with you."

4 But it happened {that night}, the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying,

5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh: "[Are] you the one to build for me a house for my dwelling?

6 For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought up the {Israelites} from Egypt until this day; [rather,] I [was] going about in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7 In all of my going about among all the {Israelites}, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, 'Why did you not build me a cedar house?'" '

8 So then, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts, "I took you from the pasture {from following} the sheep to be a leader over my people, over Israel,

9 and I have been with you {everywhere you went}. I have cut off all of your enemies from in front of you, and I will make a great name for you, as the name of the great [ones] who [are] on the earth.

10 I will make a place for my people Israel, and I will plant them so that they can dwell {in their own place}. They will not tremble [any] longer, and the children of wickedness will not afflict them again, as in the former days.

11 {In the manner that} I appointed judges over my people Israel, I will give you rest from all your enemies. And Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh will build a house for you.

12 When your days [are] full and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you who will go out from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

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

14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son for me, whom I will punish when he does wrong, with a rod of men and with blows of the {human beings}.

15 But my loyal love shall not depart from him as I took [it] from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

16 Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before you; your throne shall 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "in the night the that"
• [b]. Hebrew "was"
• [c]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [d]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [e]. Literally "from behind"
• [f]. Literally "in all that you went"
• [g]. Hebrew "him"
• [h]. Hebrew "he"
• [i]. Literally "under him"
• [j]. Literally "And as far as" or "And from the day"
• [k]. Or "fathers"
• [l]. Literally "children of men"