2 Samuel 7:8-17

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 7:8

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:13

He shall build an house for my name ,.... For the honour of it, for the worship and service of God, as it is well known Solomon did; and so his antitype the Messiah, Zechariah 6:12 , and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever ; that is, for a long time. Solomon's reign was forty years, and the kingdom of Judah continued in his posterity until the Babylonish captivity, and a prince that descended from him was the ruler of the people when they returned: this has its... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:14

I will be his father, and he shall be my son ,.... That is, I will be as kind unto him, and careful of him, as a father of a son; or he shall be, and appear to be my son, by adopting grace, as no doubt Solomon was, notwithstanding all his failings. This is applied to Christ, the antitypical Solomon, who was, in an higher sense, the Son of God, even by natural and eternal generation; see Hebrews 1:5 , if he commit iniquity ; which cannot be supposed of Christ; for though he was made sin... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:15

But my mercy shall not depart away from him ,.... Which is not to be understood of special mercy and grace, though it is true of these with respect to Solomon, and so to all the adopted children of God, see Psalm 89:32 ; but then this here designs such mercy as may be taken away from another, and as it was from Saul, as it follows: as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee ; and therefore must be understood of his mercy and kindness, in giving him a kingdom, and setting him... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 7:16

And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee ,.... That is, both his family and his government should be perpetuated, or he should always have one of his family to sit upon his throne; the accomplishment of which, in the beginning of it, he saw with his eyes in his son Solomon, and with an eye of faith in his greater Son the Messiah, in whom only these words will have their complete fulfilment; and so Abarbinel says this vision or prophecy is explained by some of... read more

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