2 Samuel 7

King James Version

Full text for 2 Samuel Chapter 7

1¶ And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;

2That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.

3And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that [is] in thine heart; for the LORD [is] with thee.

4¶ And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,

5Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?

6Whereas I have not dwelt in [any] house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.

7In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?

8Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:

9And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great [men] that [are] in the earth.

10Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

11And as since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

12And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

13He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

14I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:

15But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took [it] from Saul, whom I put away before thee.

16And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

18¶ Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who [am] I, O Lord GOD? and what [is] my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

19And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And [is] this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

20And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

21For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know [them].

22Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for [there is] none like thee, neither [is there any] God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

23And what one nation in the earth [is] like thy people, [even] like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods?

24For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel [to be] a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

25And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish [it] for ever, and do as thou hast said.

26And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

27For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

28And now, O Lord GOD, thou [art] that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

29Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken [it]: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

King David, desiring to build a permanent house for the Ark of God, is instead told by the prophet Nathan that God will build David a lasting dynasty. God promises to establish David's house and kingdom forever through his offspring, who will build the temple. In response, David offers a prayer of humble thanksgiving, acknowledging God's faithfulness and asking for the fulfillment of these divine promises.

Medium Summary

After King David expresses his desire to build a house for the Ark of God, the Lord speaks to Nathan the prophet, clarifying that He has not dwelled in a permanent house but in a tent since the Exodus. God then reveals His plan to establish David's own "house" – a perpetual dynasty. He recounts His past faithfulness to David, elevating him from a shepherd to king and granting him rest from enemies. God promises that David's son will build the temple, and His kingdom will be established forever, with God acting as a father to David's offspring. Unlike Saul, God's mercy will not depart from David's lineage. Overwhelmed by these profound promises, David enters God's presence and offers a prayer of deep humility and gratitude, praising God's unparalleled greatness. He petitions the Lord to confirm and bless his house according to the divine word spoken, ensuring its eternal establishment.

Long Summary

Having achieved rest from his enemies, King David reflects on his comfortable cedar house while the Ark of God resides in a tent, prompting his desire to build a permanent temple for the Lord. He shares this intention with Nathan the prophet, who initially approves. However, that night, the Lord communicates a direct message to Nathan, correcting David's presumption. God reminds David that He has not required a permanent dwelling since the Exodus, having always moved in a tent and tabernacle. Instead of David building God a house, God declares His intention to build David a lasting "house" – a dynasty. The Lord recounts His past faithfulness to David, elevating him from a simple shepherd to ruler over Israel, granting him victory over enemies, and making his name great. God further promises to establish a secure and permanent dwelling place for Israel, free from affliction. Central to the covenant, God reveals that when David's days are fulfilled, his offspring will succeed him, and this son will be the one to build a house for God's name. God pledges to establish the throne of this kingdom forever, promising a father-son relationship with David's descendant, chastening him if he errs but never withdrawing His mercy as He did from Saul. Consequently, David's house, kingdom, and throne are promised to be established eternally before the Lord. Upon hearing this extraordinary prophecy, King David enters the presence of the Lord, expressing profound humility and awe. He marvels at God's past blessings and the even greater, long-term promise for his lineage. David praises God's unique greatness and His redemptive work for Israel. He concludes by earnestly praying that the Lord would establish forever the word spoken concerning his servant and his house, asking for God's blessing to ensure its perpetual continuation.

Core Concepts

  • David's Desire to Build a TempleKing David, enjoying peace in his cedar house, feels it is inappropriate for the Ark of God to dwell in a mere tent, leading him to propose building a grand temple for the Lord.
  • God's Rejection of a Physical Temple (from David)The Lord clarifies that He has not required a permanent dwelling since the Exodus, having always been present in a tent, and therefore, David is not the one chosen to build Him a house.
  • The Davidic CovenantGod promises to establish David's "house" (dynasty) and kingdom forever, ensuring a perpetual line of kings from his offspring.
  • God Building David a House (Dynasty)Instead of David building God a house, God declares He will build David a lasting "house," signifying a stable and eternal royal lineage.
  • The Future Temple BuilderGod reveals that David's son will be the one to build the physical house for God's name, establishing his kingdom eternally.
  • Divine Fatherhood and MercyGod promises a father-son relationship with David's successor, indicating chastisement for iniquity but assuring that His mercy will not depart from David's lineage, unlike Saul's.
  • David's Prayer of Humility and ThanksgivingOverwhelmed by God's unsolicited and grand promises, David responds with a heartfelt prayer, expressing his unworthiness, praising God's greatness, and asking for the eternal confirmation of the divine word.