2 Samuel 7:4-17

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:4-17

We have here a full revelation of God's favour to David and the kind intentions of that favour, the notices and assurances of which God sent him by Nathan the prophet, whom he entrusted to deliver this long message to him. The design of it is to take him off from his purpose of building the temple and it was therefore sent, 1. By the same hand that had given him encouragement to do it, lest, if it had been sent by any other, Nathan should be despised and insulted and David should be perplexed,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:4

And it came to pass that night ,.... The same night following the day in which David and Nathan had had the above conversation, that neither of them might continue long in their error and mistake, and especially lest David, in his great zeal and warm affection, should take an hasty and improper step: that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan ; the word of prophecy, as the Targum; before he was not under a prophetic influence, but spoke in his own words, and had not the word of God; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:5

Go and tell my servant David ,.... The Lord speaks very honourably and respectfully of him, owns him to be his servant in other things, though he did not choose to employ him in this; and though he was not the person, nor this the time, to build the house of the Lord, yet, as he showed a good will towards it, so far it was acceptable to God: thus saith the Lord, shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in ? no, thou shalt not, as appears from 1 Chronicles 17:4 ; which seems to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:6

Whereas I have not dwelt in any house ,.... Fixed, stated, habitation: since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt , even to this day ; a space of five or six hundred years, though he might before: but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle ; moving from place to place while in the wilderness, and since in the land of Canaan, first at Gilgal, then at Shiloh, afterwards at Nob, and now at Gibeon. "Tent" and "tabernacle" are distinguished, though they... read more

John Gill

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

In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel ,.... See Gill on 2 Samuel 7:6 on the places mentioned there: spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel ; or rather the sceptres of Israel; so the word is rendered, Genesis 49:10 ; the sceptre bearers, rulers, and governors, whose custom was to carry a sceptre in their hands, as Ben Melech observes; and so in a parallel text, 1 Chronicles 17:6 , it is, "to any of the judges of Israel"; any of those from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:8

Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David ,.... For it was taken well at his hands, in part, that it was in his heart, and he had a desire to build an house for God, though he was wrong in determining upon it without seeking the Lord; and lest he should be discouraged by the prohibition of him from building, the following things are observed to assure him it was not from disregard unto him, or displeasure at him, that he would not be employed in this service; since the Lord had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:9

And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest ,.... When he went against Goliath, when he went forth against the Philistines, when in Saul's court, when he fled from Saul, and was obliged to go to various places, God was with him protecting and preserving him, prospering and succeeding him every where, and in everything: and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight : as Saul, and others in the land of Israel, and the Philistines, and other enemies round about him, so that he had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:10

Moreover, I will appoint a place for my people Israel ,.... The land of Canaan: this the Lord had of old appointed to them, and had introduced them into and settled them in it, but not entirely and alone; in many places the Canaanites had inhabited; but now they should be expelled, and the Israelites should have the place to themselves: and will plant them ; so that they shall take root and flourish, and continue: that they may dwell in a place of their own ; and not as they dwelt in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:11

And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel ,.... Before the time the judges were raised they were greatly afflicted by one nation or another around them, and between judge and judge, but now they should be no more so; here the parenthesis should end: and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies ; this belongs to David personally, and intends the same as in 2 Samuel 7:1 , also the Lord telleth thee, that he will make thee an house ; not only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:12

And when thy days be fulfilled ,.... The days of his life, which were appointed by the Lord for him to live, and when he had filled up the common term of man's life, as he exactly did; for he lived just seventy years, see 2 Samuel 5:4 , and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers ; die and be buried; for this is a phrase expressive of death, and the grave the common portion of men: I will set up thy seed after thee ; sons to succeed in the kingdom, as they did for the space of five... read more

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