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
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.
Who G3739 found G2147 favour G5485 before G1799 God, G2316 and G2532 desired G154 to find G2147 a tabernacle G4638 for the God G2316 of Jacob. G2384
Ye looked H6437 for much, H7235 and, lo, it came to little; H4592 and when ye brought H935 it home, H1004 I did blow H5301 upon it. Why? saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635 Because H3282 of mine house H1004 that is waste, H2720 and ye run H7323 every man H376 unto his own house. H1004
At the end H7118 of twelve H8648 H6236 months H3393 he walked H1934 H1981 in H5922 the palace H1965 of the kingdom H4437 of Babylon. H895 The king H4430 spake, H6032 and said, H560 Is not H3809 this H1932 H1668 great H7229 Babylon, H895 that I H576 have built H1124 for the house H1005 of the kingdom H4437 by the might H8632 of my power, H2632 and for the honour H3367 of my majesty? H1923
Until I find out H4672 a place H4725 for the LORD, H3068 an habitation H4908 for the mighty H46 God of Jacob. H3290
Now it was in the heart H3824 of David H1732 my father H1 to build H1129 an house H1004 for the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478 But the LORD H3068 said H559 to David H1732 my father, H1 Forasmuch as it was in thine heart H3824 to build H1129 an house H1004 for my name, H8034 thou didst well H2895 in that it was in thine heart: H3824 Notwithstanding H7535 thou shalt not build H1129 the house; H1004 but thy son H1121 which shall come forth H3318 out of thy loins, H2504 he shall build H1129 the house H1004 for my name. H8034
And he spread abroad H6566 the tent H168 over the tabernacle, H4908 and put H7760 the covering H4372 of the tent H168 above H4605 upon it; as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And he took H3947 and put H5414 the testimony H5715 into the ark, H727 and set H7760 the staves H905 on the ark, H727 and put H5414 the mercy seat H3727 above H4605 upon the ark: H727 And he brought H935 the ark H727 into the tabernacle, H4908 and set up H7760 the vail H6532 of the covering, H4539 and covered H5526 the ark H727 of the testimony; H5715 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
Now the acts H1697 of David H1732 the king, H4428 first H7223 and last, H314 behold, they are written H3789 in the book H1697 of Samuel H8050 the seer, H7200 and in the book H1697 of Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 and in the book H1697 of Gad H1410 the seer, H2374
And the king H4428 hath sent H7971 with him Zadok H6659 the priest, H3548 and Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 and Benaiah H1141 the son H1121 of Jehoiada, H3077 and the Cherethites, H3774 and the Pelethites, H6432 and they have caused him to ride H7392 upon the king's H4428 mule: H6506
And he sent H7971 by the hand H3027 of Nathan H5416 the prophet; H5030 and he called H7121 his name H8034 Jedidiah, H3041 because of the LORD. H3068
And the LORD H3068 sent H7971 Nathan H5416 unto David. H1732 And he came H935 unto him, and said H559 unto him, There were two H8147 men H582 in one H259 city; H5892 the one H259 rich, H6223 and the other H259 poor. H7326
And it came to pass, when the king H4428 sat H3427 in his house, H1004 and the LORD H3068 had given him rest H5117 round about H5439 from all his enemies; H341 That the king H4428 said H559 unto Nathan H5416 the prophet, H5030 See H7200 now, I dwell H3427 in an house H1004 of cedar, H730 but the ark H727 of God H430 dwelleth H3427 within H8432 curtains. H3407 And Nathan H5416 said H559 to the king, H4428 Go, H3212 do H6213 all that is in thine heart; H3824 for the LORD H3068 is with thee. And it came to pass that night, H3915 that the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came unto Nathan, H5416 saying, H559 Go H3212 and tell H559 my servant H5650 David, H1732 Thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 Shalt thou build H1129 me an house H1004 for me to dwell in? H3427 Whereas I have not dwelt H3427 in any house H1004 since the time H3117 that I brought up H5927 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of Egypt, H4714 even to this day, H3117 but have walked H1980 in a tent H168 and in a tabernacle. H4908 In all the places wherein I have walked H1980 with all the children H1121 of Israel H3478 spake H1696 I a word H1697 with any H259 of the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 whom I commanded H6680 to feed H7462 my people H5971 Israel, H3478 saying, H559 Why build H1129 ye not me an house H1004 of cedar? H730 Now therefore so 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 from following H310 the sheep, H6629 to be ruler H5057 over my people, H5971 over Israel: H3478 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, H1980 and have cut off H3772 all thine enemies H341 out of thy sight, H6440 and have made H6213 thee a great H1419 name, H8034 like unto the name H8034 of the great H1419 men that are in the earth. H776 Moreover I will appoint H7760 a place H4725 for my people H5971 Israel, H3478 and will plant H5193 them, that they may dwell H7931 in a place of their own, and move H7264 no more; neither shall the children H1121 of wickedness H5766 afflict H6031 them any more, H3254 as beforetime, H7223 And as since the time H3117 that I commanded H6680 judges H8199 to be over my people H5971 Israel, H3478 and have caused thee to rest H5117 from all thine enemies. H341 Also the LORD H3068 telleth H5046 thee that he will make H6213 thee an house. H1004 And when thy days H3117 be fulfilled, H4390 and thou shalt sleep H7901 with thy fathers, H1 I will set up H6965 thy seed H2233 after H310 thee, which shall proceed H3318 out of thy bowels, H4578 and I will establish H3559 his kingdom. H4467 He shall build H1129 an house H1004 for my name, H8034 and I will stablish H3559 the throne H3678 of his kingdom H4467 for H5704 ever. H5769 I will be his father, H1 and he shall be my son. H1121 If he commit iniquity, H5753 I will chasten H3198 him with the rod H7626 of men, H582 and with the stripes H5061 of the children H1121 of men: H120 But my mercy H2617 shall not depart away H5493 from him, as I took H5493 it from Saul, H7586 whom I put away H5493 before H6440 thee. And thine house H1004 and thy kingdom H4467 shall be established H539 for H5704 ever H5769 before H6440 thee: thy throne H3678 shall be established H3559 for H5704 ever. H5769 According to all these words, H1697 and according to all this vision, H2384 so did Nathan H5416 speak H1696 unto David. H1732 Then went H935 king H4428 David H1732 in, and sat H3427 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and he said, H559 Who am I, O Lord H136 GOD? H3069 and what is my house, H1004 that thou hast brought H935 me hitherto? H1988 And this was yet a small thing H6994 in thy sight, H5869 O Lord H136 GOD; H3069 but thou hast spoken H1696 also of thy servant's H5650 house H1004 for a great while to come. H7350 And is this the manner H8452 of man, H120 O Lord H136 GOD? H3069 And what can H3254 David H1732 say H1696 more H3254 unto thee? for thou, Lord H136 GOD, H3069 knowest H3045 thy servant. H5650 For thy word's H1697 sake, and according to thine own heart, H3820 hast thou done H6213 all these great things, H1420 to make thy servant H5650 know H3045 them. Wherefore thou art great, H1431 O LORD H3068 God: H430 for 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 And what one H259 nation H1471 in the earth H776 is like thy people, H5971 even like Israel, H3478 whom God H430 went H1980 to redeem H6299 for a people H5971 to himself, and to make H7760 him a name, H8034 and to do H6213 for you great things H1420 and terrible, H3372 for thy land, H776 before H6440 thy people, H5971 which thou redeemedst H6299 to thee from Egypt, H4714 from the nations H1471 and their gods? H430 For thou hast confirmed H3559 to thyself thy people H5971 Israel H3478 to be a people H5971 unto thee for H5704 ever: H5769 and thou, LORD, H3068 art become H1961 their God. H430 And now, O LORD H3068 God, H430 the word H1697 that thou hast spoken H1696 concerning thy servant, H5650 and concerning his house, H1004 establish H6965 it for H5704 ever, H5769 and do H6213 as thou hast said. H1696 And let thy name H8034 be magnified H1431 for H5704 ever, H5769 saying, H559 The LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 is the God H430 over Israel: H3478 and let the house H1004 of thy servant H5650 David H1732 be established H3559 before H6440 thee. For thou, O LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 God H430 of Israel, H3478 hast revealed H1540 H241 to thy servant, H5650 saying, H559 I will build H1129 thee an house: H1004 therefore hath thy servant H5650 found H4672 in his heart H3820 to pray H6419 this prayer H8605 unto thee. And now, O Lord H136 GOD, H3069 thou art that God, H430 and thy words H1697 be true, H571 and thou hast promised H1696 this goodness H2896 unto thy servant: H5650 Therefore now let it please H2974 thee to bless H1288 the house H1004 of thy servant, H5650 that it may continue for ever H5769 before H6440 thee: for thou, O Lord H136 GOD, H3069 hast spoken H1696 it: and with thy blessing H1293 let the house H1004 of thy servant H5650 be blessed H1288 for ever. H5769
And they brought H935 in the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and set H3322 it in his place, H4725 in the midst H8432 of the tabernacle H168 that David H1732 had pitched H5186 for it: and David H1732 offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 and peace offerings H8002 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 17 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 17
This chapter contains an account of David's intention to build an house for God, which, he signified to Nathan the prophet, who first encouraged him to it; but afterwards was sent by the Lord to him with an order to desist from it, assuring him, at the same time, that his son should build it, and that his own house and kingdom should be established for ever; for which David expressed great thankfulness, the whole of which is related in 2 Samuel 7:1 with some little variation, see the notes there; only one thing has since occurred, which I would just take notice of, that here, 1 Chronicles 17:5 as there also, it is said by the Lord, that he had "not dwelt in an house since the day he brought up Israel out of Egypt"; which seems to suggest that he had dwelt in one before, as has been hinted on 2 Samuel 7:6 even while the people of Israel were in Egypt, though it is nowhere mentioned by Moses, or any other writer; yet it is not unreasonable to suppose it; for as the ancestors of the Israelites, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, when only travellers from place to place, built altars for God wherever they came; so their posterity, it is highly probable, not only did the same, but when they found themselves settled in Egypt, in the land of Goshen, might build places of worship; and when we consider the wealth of Joseph, and his family, and indeed of all Israel, who enjoyed for many years great plenty, prosperity, and liberty, before their servitude, the vast numbers they increased to and the long continuance of them in Egypt, more than two hundred years; it will not seem strange that they should build houses for religious worship, and even one grand and splendid for public service, to which also they might be led by the example of the Egyptians; who, as Herodotus saysF9 , were the first that erected altars, images, and temples to the gods, and who in the times of Joseph had one at On, where his father-in-law officiated as priest, Genesis 41:45 or rather to this they might be directed by some hints and instructions of their father Jacob before his death, who it is certain had a notion of a Bethel, an house for the public worship of God, Genesis 28:17 and I find a learned manF11Dickinson. Physic. vet. & vera, c. 19. sect. 24. of our own nation of this opinion, and which he founds upon this passage; and he supposes the house God dwelt in, in Egypt, was not a tent of goats' hair, as in the wilderness, but a structure of stones or bricks, a firm and stable house, such an one as Abraham built at Damascus when settled there; which continued to the times of Augustus Caesar, as related by Nicholas of DamascusF12Apud. Joseph. Antiqu. l. 1. c. 7. sect. 2. . See 2 Samuel 7:1.cf13 (i) Euterpe, sive, l. 2. c. 4.
See Chapter Introduction