Worthy.Bible » Parallel » 1 Chronicles » Chapter 17 » Verse 1-27

1 Chronicles 17:1-27 King James Version (KJV)

1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,

10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee:

14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

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

16 And David the king came and sat before the LORD, and said, Who am I, O LORD God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

17 And yet this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for thou hast also spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O LORD God.

18 What can David speak more to thee for the honor of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19 O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, LORD, becamest their God.

23 Therefore now, LORD, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

26 And now, LORD, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

27 Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever.


1 Chronicles 17:1-27 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Now it came to pass, as David H1732 sat H3427 in his house, H1004 that David H1732 said H559 to Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 Lo, I dwell H3427 in an house H1004 of cedars, H730 but the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 remaineth under curtains. H3407

2 Then Nathan H5416 said H559 unto David, H1732 Do H6213 all that is in thine heart; H3824 for God H430 is with thee.

3 And it came to pass the same night, H3915 that the word H1697 of God H430 came to Nathan, H5416 saying, H559

4 Go H3212 and tell H559 David H1732 my servant, H5650 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Thou shalt not build H1129 me an house H1004 to dwell in: H3427

5 For I have not dwelt in H3427 an house H1004 since the day H3117 that I brought up H5927 Israel H3478 unto this day; H3117 but have gone from tent H168 to tent, H168 and from one tabernacle H4908 to another.

6 Wheresoever I have walked H1980 with all Israel, H3478 spake H1696 I a word H1697 to any H259 of the judges H8199 of Israel, H3478 whom I commanded H6680 to feed H7462 my people, H5971 saying, H559 Why have ye not built H1129 me an house H1004 of cedars? H730

7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say H559 unto my servant H5650 David, H1732 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 I took H3947 thee from the sheepcote, H5116 even from following H310 the sheep, H6629 that thou shouldest be ruler H5057 over my people H5971 Israel: H3478

8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, H1980 and have cut off H3772 all thine enemies H341 from before H6440 thee, and have made H6213 thee a name H8034 like the name H8034 of the great men H1419 that are in the earth. H776

9 Also I will ordain H7760 a place H4725 for my people H5971 Israel, H3478 and will plant H5193 them, and they shall dwell H7931 in their place, and shall be moved H7264 no more; neither shall the children H1121 of wickedness H5766 waste H1086 them any more, H3254 as at the beginning, H7223

10 And since the time H3117 that I commanded H6680 judges H8199 to be over my people H5971 Israel. H3478 Moreover I will subdue H3665 all thine enemies. H341 Furthermore I tell H5046 thee that the LORD H3068 will build H1129 thee an house. H1004

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days H3117 be expired H4390 that thou must go H3212 to be with thy fathers, H1 that I will raise up H6965 thy seed H2233 after H310 thee, which shall be of thy sons; H1121 and I will establish H3559 his kingdom. H4438

12 He shall build H1129 me an house, H1004 and I will stablish H3559 his throne H3678 for H5704 ever. H5769

13 I will be his father, H1 and he shall be my son: H1121 and I will not take H5493 my mercy H2617 away H5493 from him, as I took H5493 it from him that was before H6440 thee:

14 But I will settle H5975 him in mine house H1004 and in my kingdom H4438 for ever: H5769 and his throne H3678 shall be established H3559 for H5704 evermore. H5769

15 According to all these words, H1697 and according to all this vision, H2377 so did Nathan H5416 speak H1696 unto David. H1732

16 And David H1732 the king H4428 came H935 and sat H3427 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and said, H559 Who am I, O LORD H3068 God, H430 and what is mine house, H1004 that thou hast brought H935 me hitherto? H1988

17 And yet this was a small thing H6994 in thine eyes, H5869 O God; H430 for thou hast also spoken H1696 of thy servant's H5650 house H1004 for a great while to come, H7350 and hast regarded H7200 me according to the estate H8448 of a man H120 of high degree, H4609 O LORD H3068 God. H430

18 What can H3254 David H1732 speak more H3254 to thee for the honour H3519 of thy servant? H5650 for thou knowest H3045 thy servant. H5650

19 O LORD, H3068 for thy servant's H5650 sake, and according to thine own heart, H3820 hast thou done H6213 all this greatness, H1420 in making known H3045 all these great things. H1420

20 O LORD, H3068 there is none like thee, neither is there any God H430 beside H2108 thee, according to all that we have heard H8085 with our ears. H241

21 And what one H259 nation H1471 in the earth H776 is like thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 whom God H430 went H1980 to redeem H6299 to be his own people, H5971 to make H7760 thee a name H8034 of greatness H1420 and terribleness, H3372 by driving out H1644 nations H1471 from before H6440 thy people, H5971 whom thou hast redeemed H6299 out of Egypt? H4714

22 For thy people H5971 Israel H3478 didst thou make H5414 thine own people H5971 for H5704 ever; H5769 and thou, LORD, H3068 becamest their God. H430

23 Therefore now, LORD, H3068 let the thing H1697 that thou hast spoken H1696 concerning thy servant H5650 and concerning his house H1004 be established H539 for H5704 ever, H5769 and do H6213 as thou hast said. H1696

24 Let it even be established, H539 that thy name H8034 may be magnified H1431 for H5704 ever, H5769 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is the God H430 of Israel, H3478 even a God H430 to Israel: H3478 and let the house H1004 of David H1732 thy servant H5650 be established H3559 before H6440 thee.

25 For thou, O my God, H430 hast told H1540 H241 thy servant H5650 that thou wilt build H1129 him an house: H1004 therefore thy servant H5650 hath found H4672 in his heart to pray H6419 before H6440 thee.

26 And now, LORD, H3068 thou art God, H430 and hast promised H1696 this goodness H2896 unto thy servant: H5650

27 Now therefore let it please H2974 thee to bless H1288 the house H1004 of thy servant, H5650 that it may be before H6440 thee for ever: H5769 for thou blessest, H1288 O LORD, H3068 and it shall be blessed H1288 for ever. H5769


1 Chronicles 17:1-27 American Standard (ASV)

1 And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Jehovah `dwelleth' under curtains.

2 And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thy heart; for God is with thee.

3 And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith Jehovah, Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in:

5 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from `one' tabernacle `to another'.

6 In all places wherein I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar?

7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people Israel:

8 and I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast gone, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth.

9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,

10 and `as' from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that Jehovah will build thee a house.

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee;

14 but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever.

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

16 Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Jehovah God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?

17 And this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; but thou hast spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, O Jehovah God.

18 What can David `say' yet more unto thee concerning the honor which is done to thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19 O Jehovah, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all `these' great things.

20 O Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou redeemest out of Egypt?

22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.

23 And now, O Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as thou hast spoken.

24 And let thy name be established and magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee.

25 For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house: therefore hath thy servant found `in his heart' to pray before thee.

26 And now, O Jehovah, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant:

27 and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever.


1 Chronicles 17:1-27 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass as David sat in his house, that David saith unto Nathan the prophet, `Lo, I am dwelling in a house of cedars, and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah `is' under curtains;'

2 and Nathan saith unto David, `All that `is' in thy heart do, for God `is' with thee.'

3 And it cometh to pass on that night that a word of God is unto Nathan, saying,

4 `Go, and thou hast said unto David My servant, Thus said Jehovah, Thou dost not build for Me the house to dwell in:

5 for I have not dwelt in a house from the day that I brought up Israel till this day, and I am from tent unto tent: and from the tabernacle,

6 whithersoever I have walked up and down among all Israel, a word spake I, with one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My people, saying, Why have ye not built for Me a house of cedars?

7 `And now, thus dost thou say to My servant, to David, Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, I have taken thee from the habitation, from after the sheep, to be leader over My people Israel,

8 and I am with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and I cut off all thine enemies from thy presence, and have made for thee a name like the name of the great ones who `are' in the earth.

9 `And I have prepared a place for My people Israel, and planted it, and it hath dwelt in its place, and is not troubled any more, and the sons of perverseness add not to wear it out as at first,

10 yea, even from the days that I appointed judges over My people Israel. `And I have humbled all thine enemies, and I declare to thee that a house doth Jehovah build for thee,

11 and it hath come to pass, when thy days have been fulfilled to go with thy fathers, that I have raised up thy seed after thee, who is of thy sons, and I have established his kingdom,

12 he doth build for Me a house, and I have established his throne unto the age;

13 I am to him for a father, and he is to Me for a son, and My kindness I turn not aside from him as I turned it aside from him who was before thee,

14 and I have established him in My house, and in My kingdom unto the age, and his throne is established unto the age.'

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so spake Nathan unto David.

16 And David the king cometh in and sitteth before Jehovah, and saith, `Who `am' I, O Jehovah God, and what my house, that Thou hast brought me hitherto?

17 And this is small in Thine eyes, O God, and Thou speakest concerning the house of thy servant afar off, and hast seen me as a type of the man who is on high, O Jehovah God!

18 `What doth David add more unto Thee for the honour of Thy servant; and Thou Thy servant hast known.

19 O Jehovah, for Thy servant's sake, and according to Thine own heart Thou hast done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

20 O Jehovah, there is none like Thee, and there is no god save Thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 `And who `is' as Thy people Israel, one nation in the earth whom God hath gone to ransom to Him for a people, to make for Thee a name great and fearful, to cast out from the presence of Thy people whom Thou hast ransomed out of Egypt -- nations?

22 Yea, Thou dost appoint Thy people Israel to Thee for a people unto the age, and Thou, O Jehovah, hast been to them for God.

23 `And now, O Jehovah, the word that Thou hast spoken concerning Thy servant, and concerning his house, let be stedfast unto the age, and do as Thou hast spoken;

24 and let it be stedfast, and Thy name is great unto the age, saying, Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, is God to Israel, and the house of Thy servant David is established before Thee;

25 for Thou, O my God, Thou hast uncovered the ear of Thy servant -- to build to him a house, therefore hath Thy servant found to pray before Thee.

26 `And now, Jehovah, Thou `art' God Himself, and Thou speakest concerning Thy servant this goodness;

27 and now, Thou hast been pleased to bless the house of Thy servant, to be to the age before Thee; for Thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed to the age.'


1 Chronicles 17:1-27 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And it came to pass as David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedars, and the ark of the covenant of Jehovah under curtains.

2 And Nathan said to David, Do all that is in thy heart; for God is with thee.

3 And it came to pass that night that the word of God came to Nathan saying,

4 Go and say to David my servant, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in;

5 for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up Israel to this day; but I have been from tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another].

6 In all my going about with all Israel, did I speak a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why build ye me not a house of cedars?

7 And now, thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I took thee from the pasture-grounds, from following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel;

8 and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name, like unto the name of the great men that are on the earth.

9 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and be disturbed no more; neither shall the sons of wickedness waste them any more, as formerly,

10 and since the days that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. And I will subdue all thine enemies; and I tell thee that Jehovah will build thee a house.

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go [to be] with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 It is he who shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son; and I will not take away my mercy from him, as I took it from him that was before thee;

14 and I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever.

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

16 And king David went in and sat before Jehovah, and said, Who am I, Jehovah Elohim, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

17 And this hath been a small thing in thy sight, O God; and thou hast spoken of thy servant's house for a great while to come, and hast regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, Jehovah Elohim.

18 What can David [say] more to thee for the glory of thy servant? thou indeed knowest thy servant.

19 Jehovah, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, to make known all these great things.

20 Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And who is like thy people Israel, the one nation in the earth that God went to redeem to be a people to himself, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people, which thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

22 And thy people Israel hast thou made thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, art become their God.

23 And now, Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

24 Let it even be established, and let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, is God to Israel; and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

25 For thou, my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house; therefore hath thy servant found [in his heart] to pray before thee.

26 And now, Jehovah, thou art that God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant;

27 and now, let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever; for thou, Jehovah, hast blessed [it], and it shall be blessed for ever.


1 Chronicles 17:1-27 World English Bible (WEB)

1 It happened, when David lived in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh [dwells] under curtains.

2 Nathan said to David, Do all that is in your heart; for God is with you.

3 It happened the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus says Yahweh, You shall not build me a house to dwell in:

5 for I have not lived in a house since the day that I brought up Israel, to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from [one] tent [to another].

6 In all places in which I have walked with all Israel, spoke I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people, saying, Why have you not built me a house of cedar?

7 Now therefore thus shall you tell my servant David, Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel:

8 and I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth.

9 I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,

10 and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that Yahweh will build you a house.

11 It shall happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who shall be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my loving kindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before you;

14 but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever; and his throne shall be established forever.

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

16 Then David the king went in, and sat before Yahweh; and he said, Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?

17 This was a small thing in your eyes, God; but you have spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and have regarded me according to the estate of a man of high degree, Yahweh God.

18 What can David [say] yet more to you concerning the honor which is done to your servant? for you know your servant.

19 Yahweh, for your servant's sake, and according to your own heart, have you worked all this greatness, to make known all [these] great things.

20 Yahweh, there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 What one nation in the earth is like your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, to make you a name by great and awesome things, in driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeem out of Egypt?

22 For your people Israel did you make your own people forever; and you, Yahweh, became their God.

23 Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.

24 Let your name be established and magnified forever, saying, Yahweh of Hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David your servant is established before you.

25 For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house: therefore has your servant found [in his heart] to pray before you.

26 Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have promised this good thing to your servant:

27 and now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you: for you, Yahweh, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.


1 Chronicles 17:1-27 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Now when David was living in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, See, I am living in a house of cedar-wood, but the ark of the Lord's agreement is under the curtains of a tent.

2 And Nathan said to David, Do whatever is in your heart, for God is with you.

3 But that same night, the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 Go and say to David my servant, The Lord says, You are not to make me a house for my living-place:

5 For from the day when I took Israel up, till this day, I have had no house, but have gone from tent to tent, and from living-place to living-place.

6 In all the places where I have gone with all Israel, did I ever say to any of the judges of Israel, whom I made the keepers of my people, Why have you not made for me a house of cedar?

7 So now, say to my servant David, The Lord of armies says, I took you from the fields, from keeping sheep, so that you might be a ruler over my people Israel;

8 And I have been with you wherever you went, cutting off before you all those who were against you; and I will make your name like the name of the greatest ones of the earth.

9 And I will make a resting-place for my people Israel, planting them there, so that they may be in the place which is theirs and never again be moved; and never again will they be made waste by evil men, as they were at first,

10 From the time when I put judges over my people Israel; and I will overcome all those who are against you; and I will make you great and the head of a line of kings.

11 And when the time comes for you to go to your fathers, I will put in your place your seed after you, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.

12 He will be the builder of my house, and I will make the seat of his authority certain for ever.

13 I will be to him a father and he will be to me a son; and I will not take my mercy away from him as I took it from him who was before you;

14 But I will make his place in my house and in my kingdom certain for ever; and the seat of his authority will never be overturned.

15 So Nathan gave David an account of all these words and this vision.

16 Then David the king went in and took his seat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my family, that you have been my guide till now?

17 And this was only a small thing to you, O God; but your words have even been about the far-off future of your servant's family, looking on me as on one of high position, O Lord God.

18 What more may David say to you? for you have knowledge of your servant.

19 O Lord, because of your servant, and from your heart, you have done all these great things and let them be seen.

20 O Lord, there is no one like you, and no other God but you, as is clear from everything which has come to our ears.

21 And what other nation in the earth, like your people Israel, did a god go out to take for himself, to be his people, making his name great and to be feared, driving out the nations from before your people whom you made free and took out of Egypt?

22 For your people Israel you made yours for ever; and you, Lord, became their God.

23 And now, Lord, let your words about your servant and about his family be made certain for ever, and do as you have said.

24 So let your words be made certain and your name be made great, when men say, The Lord of armies is the God of Israel; and when the family of David your servant is made strong before you.

25 For you, O my God, have let your servant see that you will make him head of a line of kings; and so it has come into your servant's heart to make his prayer to you.

26 And now, O Lord, you are God, and you have said you will give this good thing to your servant:

27 And now you have been pleased to give your blessing to the family of your servant, so that it may go on for ever before you; you, O Lord, have given your blessing, and a blessing will be on it for ever.

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 17

1Ch 17:1-10. David Forbidden to Build God a House.

1. as David sat in his house—The details of this chapter were given in nearly similar terms (2Sa 7:1-29). The date was towards the latter end of David's reign, for it is expressly said in the former book to have been at the cessation of all his wars. But as to narrate the preparations for the removal of the ark and the erection of the temple was the principal object of the historian, the exact chronology is not followed.

5. I … have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another—The literal rendering is, "I was walking in a tent and in a dwelling." The evident intention (as we may see from 1Ch 17:6) was to lay stress upon the fact that God was a Mithhatlek (a travelling God) and went from one place to another with His tent and His entire dwelling (the dwelling included not merely the tent, but the fore-courts with the altar of burnt offerings, &c.) [Bertheau].

6. spake I a word to any of the judges—In 2Sa 7:7 it is "any of the tribes" of Israel. Both are included. But the judges "who were commanded to feed the people," form the more suitable antithesis to David.

Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?—that is, a solid and magnificent temple.

7. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote—a round tower of rude construction, high walled, but open at the top, in which sheep are often enclosed at night to protect them from wild beasts. The meaning is, I elevated you to the throne from a humble condition solely by an act of divine grace, and not from any antecedent merits of your own (see on 1Sa 16:11), and I enabled you to acquire renown, equal or superior to any other monarch. Your reign will ever be afterwards regarded as the best and brightest era in the history of Israel, for it will secure to the nation a settled inheritance of prosperity and peace, without any of the oppressions or disorders that afflicted them in early times.

9, 10. at the beginning, and since the time that I commanded judges—that is, including the whole period from Joshua to Saul.

I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house—This was the language of Nathan himself, who was specially directed to assure David, not only of personal blessing and prosperity, but of a continuous line of royal descendants.

11. I will raise up thy seed—(See on 2Sa 7:12).

13. I will not take my mercy away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee—My procedure in dealing with him will be different from My disposal of Saul. Should his misconduct call for personal chastisement, I shall spare his family. If I see it necessary to withdraw My favor and help for a time, it will be a corrective discipline only to reform and restore, not to destroy. (On this passage some have founded an argument for Solomon's repentance and return to God).

14. I will settle him in my house—over My people Israel.

and in my kingdom for ever—God here asserts His right of supreme sovereignty in Israel. David and Solomon, with their successors, were only the vicegerents whom He nominated, or, in His providence, permitted.

his throne shall be established for evermore—The posterity of David inherited the throne in a long succession—but not always. In such a connection as this, the phrase "for evermore" is employed in a restricted sense (see on La 3:31). We naturally expect the prophet to revert to David before concluding, after having spoken (1Ch 17:12) of the building of Solomon's temple. The promise that his house should be blessed was intended as a compensation for the disappointment of his wish to build the temple, and hence this assurance is appropriately repeated at the conclusion of the prophet's address [Bertheau].

15. According to all … this vision—The revelation of the divine will was made to the prophet in a dream.

16. David the king … sat before the Lord, and said—(See on 2Sa 7:18).