1 Chronicles 17ASV
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1 Chronicles17

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Jehovah dwelleth under curtains.

2And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thy heart; for God is with thee.

3And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith Jehovah, Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in:

5for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

6In all places wherein I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar?

7Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people Israel:

8and I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast gone, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.

9And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,

10and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that Jehovah will build thee a house.

11And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.

13I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee;

14but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever.

15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

16Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Jehovah God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?

17And this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; but thou hast spoken of thy servant’s house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Jehovah God.

18What can David say yet more unto thee concerning the honor which is done to thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19O Jehovah, for thy servant’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

20O Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou redeemedst out of Egypt?

22For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.

23And now, O Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as thou hast spoken.

24And let thy name be established and magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee.

25For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray before thee.

26And now, O Jehovah, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant:

27and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 17.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: David's purposes; God's gracious promises. (1-27).

vv1-27

This chapter is the same as 2Sa 7. See what is there said upon it. It is very observable that what in Samuel is said to be, “for thy word's sake,” is here said to be, “for thy servant's sake,” verse 19. Jesus Christ is both the Word of God, Re 19:13, and the Servant of God, Isa 42:1; and it is for his sake, upon account of his mediation, that the promises are made good to all believers; it is in him, that they are yea and amen. For His sake it is done, for his sake it is made known; to him we owe all this greatness, from him we are to expect all these great things. They are the unsearchable riches of Christ, which, if by faith we see in themselves, and see in the Lord Jesus, we cannot but magnify as the only true greatness, and speak honourably of them. For this blessedness may we look amidst the trials of life, and when we feel the hand of death upon us; and seek it for our children after us.

Cross References

1 Chronicles 17
v12 Samuel 7:2-17thematic

Direct parallel narrative in Samuel detailing Nathan's message and the Davidic covenant.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB

v13Hebrews 1:5fulfillment

New Testament quotation of 'I will be to him a Father, and he shall be my Son'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v162 Samuel 7:18thematic

Direct parallel text where King David sits before the Lord in humility.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v172 Samuel 7:19thematic

Parallel for David's marveling at God's promise concerning his house for a great while.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v71 Samuel 16:11thematic

Historical account of God taking David from following the sheep to be anointed.

Supported by JFB

v10Psalms 110:1typology

Messianic psalm establishing the eternal priest-king throne hinted at in subduing enemies.

Supported by Matthew Poole

David recalls God's words that his son Solomon shall build the temple and have his throne established.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Psalms 89:26-28thematic

Poetic expansion of the covenant promises, establishing David's seed and father-son relationship.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v14Luke 1:32-33fulfillment

Fulfillment of the everlasting throne and kingdom promised specifically to David's seed.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v52 Samuel 7:6thematic

Parallel phrase of God walking in a tent and tabernacle since the Exodus.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Solomon's chosen seat upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord, matching 'my kingdom'.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Reiterates God's specific promise that Solomon shall build His house and be His son.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v19Isaiah 42:1allusion

Theological link connecting the phrase 'for thy servant's sake' to Christ, the ultimate Servant.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v232 Samuel 7:25-29thematic

Parallel for David's prayer requesting that God's promise to his house be established forever.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Immediate preceding context containing the grand covenant promises David reflects on in his prayer.

Supported by JFB