2 Samuel7
New International Version
1After the king was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him,
2he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
3Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
4But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in?
6I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
7Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”’
8“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel.
9I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.
10And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning
11and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you:
12When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom.
13He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
14I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands.
15But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
16Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.’”
17Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
18Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?
19And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!
20“What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, Sovereign Lord.
21For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.
22“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.
23And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt?
24You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.
25“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised,
26so that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established in your sight.
27“Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you.
28Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.
29Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will 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