2 Samuel 7

2 Samuel 7:1

ANd it] Compare this whole Chapter with 1 Chron. 17.

when the king sate] 1 Chronicles 17:1. In peace and safety.

2 Samuel 7:2

house of cedar] As if he should say, It is a most unfitting thing that I should dwell in a more fair, costly and setled habitation then the ark of God, the visible signe of his glorious presence. See Hagg. 1. 4.

curtains] That is, in the tabernacle covered with skins and curtains, Exodus 26:1.

2 Samuel 7:3

Nathan said] That is, out of his own opinion and advice, and not by any revelation from God, which he should have waited for, in a matter of such great importance, before he gave his sentence.

do all] That is, build a house to the LORD, as thou desirest, and he that hath moved thee to do it will prosper thy work.

2 Samuel 7:5

my servant David] Hebr. to my servant to David.

Shalt thou] That is, thou shalt not do it, for thou hast shed much blood; and canst have no leisure in time to come, because thou shalt yet have much war. See 1 Chron. 17. 4. 22. 8. and 1 Kings 3:5.

to dwell in] That is, to shew therein my gracious presence.

2 Samuel 7:6

in a tent] That is, have shewed my presence in a tbernacle flitting and removing from place to place. So 1 Chron. 17. 5. As if he should say, There is no present haste or necessity of building an house for me, who have all this while been content with a tent, and so shall be still, till my own time be come.

2 Samuel 7:7

spake I] Did I ever complain that my house was not built? seeing though I had a purpose that it should be done in due time, yet I had not required that they should go about it, till this time were come.

any of the tribes] That is, any of the judges and rulers of the tribes, 1 Chronicles 17:6.

to feed] That is, as faithfull shepherds to govern and provide for my people.

2 Samuel 7:8

I took thee from the sheep-cote] 1 Samuel 16:11. Psalms 78:70. God recounteth his former and future benefits, not to upbraid him, but that David might not doubt of his love, nor think that for want of it he rejected his service in building him a temple.

from following] Hebr. from after.

2 Samuel 7:9

I was with thee] So Chap. 8. 6, 14.

great name] That is, I have made thee famous and formidable among all the nations round about thee.

great men] That is, princes and potentates of the earth.

2 Samuel 7:10

a place] That is, in their own land allotted to them.

no more] To wit, if they will continue in obedience, Deuteronomy 28:8-9. Jeremiah 18:9-10.

children of] The malicious enemies of Israel.

2 Samuel 7:11

since the time] That is, as they have been divers times afflicted in the dayes of the Judges, when as their enemies did often oppresse them; whereas, since thy reign, I have given thee and them full victory over thine and their enemies.

make thee an house] That is, set up and establish thy kingdom in thy posterity, graciously to reward thy zealous intention to build him an house, Exodus 1:21. See on 1 Kings 2:24.

2 Samuel 7:12

when thy dayes be fulfilled] 1 Kings 8:20.

thy seed] That is, Solomon as the type, and the Messias prefigured by him, both which he respecteth in the following promises; some of which properly belong to one, and some to the other.

2 Samuel 7:13

He shall build] 1 Kings 5:5. and 1 Kings 3:12. 1 Chron. 22. 10. That is, Solomon, an earthly and temporall temple, and Christ, a spirituall and everlasting house, that is, the Church, Luke 1. 32, 33.

for ever] Which is proper and peculiar to Christs kingdom alone.

2 Samuel 7:14

I will be his father] Hebrews 1:5.

my son] Solomon, by grace and adoption; Christ, by nature and eternall generation, John 1:18. Acts 13:33. 1 John 4:9.

if he commit iniquity] Psal. 89. 30, 31, 32. That is, Solomon; for Christ was without sin, Isaiah 53:9. 1 Corinthians 5:21. 1 Pet. 2. 22. and 1. 19.

rod of men] That is, as a father his childe in measure, and for his good and amendment, not his destruction, Jeremiah 30:11.

2 Samuel 7:15

not depart] That is, I will not quite cast him out of favour, and deprive him of his kingdom, as I did Saul.

2 Samuel 7:16

before thee] That is, I will begin to establish thy kingdom in thy own dayes, to strenthen thy faith in assurance, that it shall be accomplished in thy son Christ, 1 Kings 1:48.

2 Samuel 7:17

speak] That is, make a true and faithfull relation of all that which God had commanded to speak.

2 Samuel 7:18

David in] That is, into the tent in which he had placed the ark.

and sate] That is, remained in Gods presence meditating and praying.

brought me] That is, so highly advanced me already, being wholly unworthy of such grace and favour.

2 Samuel 7:19

And this] To wit, which thou hast already done.

and is this] That is, to extend such favour and goodnesse of meer grace above all desert? no, it is proper to thee onely. Or thus; Do men use to deal so freely and familiarly with their mean inferiours, as thou dost with me?

manner] Hebr. law.

2 Samuel 7:20

say more] That is, I need not use many words to expresse my thankfulnesse, seeing thou knowest my heart.

2 Samuel 7:21

words sake] That is, thy free and gracious promise: or, thy Christs sake, who is thy eternall Word, and thy meer grace, and free good-will. See 1 Chron. 17. 19.

know them] That is, to acknowledge thy benefits with all thankfulnesse.

2 Samuel 7:22

have heard] That is, according to all which by thy word thou hast made known unto us.

2 Samuel 7:23

what one nation in the earth is like thy people] Deut. 4 7.

went to redeem] That is, came (as it were) down from heaven, to shew his power in redeeming them, Exodus 3:7-8.

to make him] That is, to make his people Israel famous and renowned among all nations. See 1 Chronicles 17:21. or to magnifie his own glory by his great works.

the nations] That is, the Aegyptians and their idols.

2 Samuel 7:24

for ever] That is, the naturall Israel, till the coming of Christ: but the spirituall Israel, that is, all the faithfull Jews and Gentiles, for ever; of which he assigneth no other cause, but Gods free election, Genesis 17:7.

2 Samuel 7:27

hast revealed] Hebr. opened the ear; That is, hast made him clearly to know. See 1 Samuel 9:15.

a house] That is, continue the kingdom to thee, and to thy posterity.

in his heart] That is, hath found his heart thus disposed to call upon thee, having thy promise as the ground of his faith and prayer, Psalms 116:10.

2 Samuel 7:28

thy words be true] John 17:17.

2 Samuel 7:29

let it please thee to blesse] Hebr. be thou pleased and blesse.

hast spoken it] And therefore I firmly believe it shall come to passe.

for ever] That is, both now, and to all eternity.