Bible Commentaries

Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of ^a cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD [remaineth] under ^b curtains.

(a) Well built and fair.

(b) That is, in tents covered with skin.

Then Nathan said unto David, Do ^c all that [is] in thine heart; for God [is] with thee.

(c) As yet God had not revealed to the prophet what he purposed concerning David, therefore seeing God favoured David, he spoke what he thought.

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

(d) After Nathan had spoken to David.

For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from ^e tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another].

(e) That is, in a tent which moved to and fro.

Wheresoever I have ^f walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

(f) Meaning, wherever his ark went, which was a sign of his presence.

Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, ^g [even] from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

(g) Of a shepherd of sheep I made you a shepherd of men: so that you did not come to this dignity through your own merits, but by my pure grace.

Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will ^h plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

(h) Make them sure that they will not move.

And since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will ⁱ build thee an house.

(i) Will give you great posterity.

He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ^k ever.

(k) That is, to the coming of Christ: for then these figures would cease.

I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took [it] from [him] that was before ^l thee:

(l) Which was Saul.

And David the king ^m came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who [am] I, O LORD God, and what [is] mine house, that thou hast brought me ⁿ hitherto?

(m) He went into the tent where the Ark was, showing what we should do when we receive any benefits from the Lord.

(n) Meaning to this kingly estate.

And [yet] this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast [also] spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of ^o high degree, O LORD God.

(o) You have promised a kingdom that will continue to me and my posterity and that Christ will proceed from me.

O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own ^p heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all [these] great things.

(p) Freely and according to the purpose of your will, without any deserving.

Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God of ^q Israel, [even] a God to Israel: and [let] the house of David thy servant [be] established before thee.

(q) That is, he shows himself indeed to be their God, by delivering them from dangers, and preserving them.

For thou, O my God, hast ^r told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found [in his heart] to pray before thee.

(r) You have declared to me by Nathan the prophet.