2 Samuel7
New American Standard
1Now it came about, when the king lived in his house, and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I live in a house of cedar, but the ark of God remains within the tent.”
3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4But in the same night, the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying,
5“Go and say to My servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Should you build Me a house for My dwelling?
6For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; rather, I have been moving about in a tent, that is, in a dwelling place.
7Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’”’
8Now then, this is what you shall say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “I Myself took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel.
9And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have eliminated all your enemies from you; I will also make a great name for you, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
10And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will malicious people oppress them anymore as previously,
11even from the day that I appointed judges over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you.
12When your days are finished and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he does wrong, I will discipline him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of mankind,
15but My favor shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from you.
16Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”’”
17In accordance with all these words and all of this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
18Then David the king came in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my household, that You have brought me this far?
19And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant regarding the distant future. And this is the custom of mankind, Lord God.
20Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, Lord God!
21For the sake of Your word, and according to Your heart, You have done all this greatness, to let Your servant know.
22For this reason You are great, Lord God; for there is no one like You, and there is no God except You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, because of Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from other nations and their gods?
24For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, Lord, have become their God.
25Now then, Lord God, the word that You have spoken about Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do just as You have spoken,
26so that Your name may be great forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of armies is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.
27For You, Lord of armies, God of Israel, have given a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You.
28Now then, Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth; and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.
29And now, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, so that it may continue forever before You. For You, Lord God, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's care for the ark. (1–3). God's covenant with David. (4–17). His prayer and thanksgiving. (18–29).
vv1-3
David being at rest in his palace, considered how he might best employ his leisure and prosperity in the service of God. He formed a design to build a temple for the ark. Nathan here did not speak as a prophet, but as a godly man, encouraging David by his private judgment. We ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work.
vv4-17
Blessings are promised to the family and posterity of David. These promises relate to Solomon, David's immediate successor, and the royal line of Judah. But they also relate to Christ, who is often called David and the Son of David. To him God gave all power in heaven and earth, with authority to execute judgment. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for God's name; the spiritual temple of true believers, to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. The establishing of his house, his throne, and his kingdom for ever, can be applied to no other than to Christ and his kingdom: David's house and kingdom long since came to an end. The committing iniquity cannot be applied to the Messiah himself, but to his spiritual seed; true believers have infirmities, for which they must expect to be corrected, though they are not cast off.
vv18-29
David's prayer is full of the breathings of devout affection toward God. He had low thoughts of his own merits. All we have, must be looked upon as Divine gifts. He speaks very highly and honourably of the Lord's favours to him. Considering what the character and condition of man is, we may be amazed that God should deal with him as he does. The promise of Christ includes all; if the Lord God be ours, what more can we ask, or think of? Eph 3:20. He knows us better than we know ourselves; therefore let us be satisfied with what he has done for us. What can we say more for ourselves in our prayers, than God has said for us in his promises? David ascribes all to the free grace of God. Both the great things He had done for him, and the great things He had made known to him. All was for his word's sake, that is, for the sake of Christ the eternal Word. Many, when they go to pray, have their hearts to seek, but David's heart was found, that is, it was fixed; gathered in from its wanderings, entirely engaged to the duty, and employed in it. That prayer which is from the tongue only, will not please God; it must be found in the heart; that must be lifted up and poured out before God. He builds his faith, and hopes to speed, upon the sureness of God's promise. David prays for the performance of the promise. With God, saying and doing are not two things, as they often are with men; God will do as he hath said. The promises of God are not made to us by name, as to David, but they belong to all who believe in Jesus Christ, and plead them in his name.
Key Words
מֶלֶךְ: a king
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
נוּחַ: to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.)
סָבִיב: (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
אֹיֵב: hating; an adversary
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
נָתָן: Nathan, the name of five Israelites
נָבִיא: a prophet or (generally) inspired man
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Cross References
2 Samuel 7Peter explains that God's oath to raise up David's seed is fulfilled in Christ's resurrection.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Gabriel announces Jesus as the final fulfillment of the promise of an everlasting Davidic throne.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
New Testament quotation applying the father-son relationship of verse 14 directly to Jesus Christ.
Supported by JFB
The exact parallel historical account of Nathan's prophecy and the establishment of the Davidic covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
A profound poetic reflection on the terms, promises, and enduring nature of the Davidic covenant.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Solomon recalls David's heartfelt desire to build a temple for the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
David recounts God's promise that his son Solomon would build the physical temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel expression of David's awe regarding God treating him according to the estate of a high man.
Supported by JFB
Establishes the context of David's luxurious 'house of cedar' built by Hiram's craftsmen.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Solomon explains that David's constant wars prevented him from building the physical temple.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Elaborates on divine discipline as proof of sonship, echoing the promise of fatherly correction.
Supported by Matthew Henry
A New Testament parallel to David's amazement at God doing far beyond what man expects.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Self-referential connection showing Israel redeemed from Egypt to be God's unique people forever.
Supported by JFB
God reminds David of his abundant grace, highlighting that prior gifts were also substantial.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms that God's words and promises of eternal inheritance are absolutely true and cannot lie.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole