2 Samuel 7:2-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:1-3

Here is, I. David at rest. He sat in his house (2 Sam. 7:1), quiet and undisturbed, having no occasion to take the field: The Lord had given him rest round about, from all those that were enemies to his settlement in the throne, and he set himself to enjoy that rest. Though he was a man of war, he was for peace (Ps. 120:7) and did not delight in war. He had not been long at rest, nor was it long before he was again engaged in war; but at present he enjoyed a calm, and he was in his element... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:2

That the king said unto Nathan the prophet ,.... This is the first time this prophet is made mention of, but often afterwards, yet who he was, and from whence he came, is not known; he appears to be a man of great piety and prudence, as well as endowed with a prophetic spirit, and was very familiar with David, and perhaps dwelt in his palace; being a man on all accounts fit for conversation with princes, to whom David imparted what he had been meditating upon in his heart. The Jews have a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:3

And Nathan said to the king, go, do till that is in thine heart ,.... He perceived it was in his heart to build an house for God; he knew an house was to be built at one time or another, by some person or another; he knew it was a good work, and fit for a king to do, and might think this was a proper time any, he being at leisure, and therefore encouraged him to it: but inasmuch as the time when and the person by whom this was to be built were not pointed out particularly in the word of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 7:2

I dwell in a house of cedar - That is, a house whose principal beams, ceiling, and wainscot, were cedar. Dwelleth within curtains - Having no other residence but the tabernacle, which was a place covered with the skins of beasts, Exodus 26:14 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 7:3

Nathan said to the king - In this case he gave his judgment as a pious and prudent man, not as a prophet; for the prophets were not always under a Divine afflatus; it was only at select times they were thus honored. For the Lord is with thee - Thou hast his blessing in all that thou doest, and this pious design of thine will most certainly meet with his approbation. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:1-2

( 1 Chronicles 17:1 ). ( THE KING 'S PALACE IN ZION .) David's purpose to build a house for the Lord. (References : 1 Kings 5:3 ; 1 Kings 6:12 ; 1 Kings 8:17-19 ; 1 Chronicles 22:7-10 ; 1 Chronicles 28:2-7 ; 1 Chronicles 29:1-3 ; 2 Chronicles 6:7-9 .) The king's palace of cedar on Mount Zion had been completed. In the adjacent tabernacle or dwelling place of Jehovah ( 2 Samuel 7:6 ) the ark had found rest, and a regular order of public worship had been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:1-2

David's desire to build a temple. After the conquest of Jebus by David and his appointment of the spot to be the capital of the united kingdom of which he was now the ruler, it soon became his earnest purpose to bring thither the long-neglected ark of the covenant, that the city might be the sacred as well as the civil metropolis. This purpose was at length fulfilled. The ark was settled on Zion in a tent prepared for it, and a daily service established in connection with it. But the king... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:1-11

The facts are: 1 . David, being settled in his kingdom and furnished with a permanent place of abode, is dissatisfied that the ark of the Lord should remain in a frail tent. 2 . He sends for Nathan, and intimates his desire to build a fitting house for the Lord, and receives encouragement from the prophet. 3 . During a vision of the night Nathan is directed to inform David that his desire cannot be realized; that all along it had been God's will to move from place to place in a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:2

A house of cedar; Hebrew, cedars. As these trees were sent by Hiram, and as the house was built, and David now settled in it, some considerable time must have elapsed since his accession. Moreover, the league with Hiram would be the result of David's successes recorded in 2 Samuel 8:1 ; for the bond of union between the two was their mutual fear of the Philistines. As we have seen before, the alliance with Tyro had a very civilizing effect upon the Hebrews, who were far inferior to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:3

Go, do all that is in thine heart. Nathan rashly approves. The king's purpose seems so pious that he does not doubt its acceptance by God. read more

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