2 Samuel 7:1–7:29

rest from all his surrounding enemies. See notes on wv. 6, 9. See also v. 11; Deut. 12:10; 25:19; Josh. 23:1. | Nathan. Mentioned here for the first time, Nathan the prophet will also play a significant role in ch. 12 and 1 Kin. 1. See also 1 Chr. 29:29; 2 Chr. 9:29; 29:25. in a tent. David apparently views his palace as symbolic of his now- | Go. David's plan seems reasonable to Nathan, but he is quick to reverse himself when ordered by the Lord (v. 4). Nathan is no flatterer (12:7-14). | The theological and historical significance of the divine promise to David recorded in these verses (paralleled in 1 Chr. 17:3-15) can hardly be overestimated. Indeed, the promise of an enduring Davidic kingdom has been called the summit of the entire Old Testament. Looking back, it takes up the promises of blessing made to Abraham and his elect seed (Gen. 17:16) and brings them to rest on David (vv. 9, 10, 12). Looking forward, it prepares for the messianic hope that inspires Israel's faith before and after the exile in Babylon (Is, 11:1; Jer. 23:5, 6; Zech. 3:8; 6:12). The hope for a Messiah culminates in the coming of Jesus Christ (Is, 9:1-7; Luke 1:32, 33, 69, 70; Acts 2:30, 31; 13:22, 23; Rom. 1:1-4; 2 Tim. 2:8; Rev. 22:16). | my servant David. Cf. 3:18; Ps. 89:3. The Lord's reference to David as “my servant” places him in a select company, which includes Abraham (Gen. 26:24), Moses (Num, 12:7, 8; Deut. 34:5), Caleb (Num. 14:24), and Joshua (Josh. 24:29). , | 4ch, 14:4 ‘and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lorp and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. "And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekites, David remained two days in antl Gk Ziklag. 7And on the third day, behold, ’a | 416 5 perk .__ | 6/For ver. 6- man came from Saul’s camp, ‘with his | 10 see clothes torn and dirt on his head. And | }%™3'" when he came to David, “he fell to the a ground and paid homage. ?David said to 254) him, “Where do you come from?” And he | "7.5, said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” *And David said to him, ‘“How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” *Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” ®And the young man who told him said, /“By chance Amalekite.” “David said to him, “How is it you were not “afraid to put out your hand to destroy 'the Lorp’s anointed?” ‘Then "David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. '*And David said to him, " “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘T have killed ’the Lorp’s anointed.’” P 11! ch, 13:31; avid’ I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and | ich.331; P 7407) Wet = a Rete see OL there was Saul leaning on his spear, and | jig’ 3a0° “And David ’ lamented with this jamen- behold. the chariots and the horsemen |14*1sm. | tation over Saul and Jonathan his son, ? 24:6, 10; 18 : rH | were close upon him. 7And when he | 29:3141 an he fai i ene be taught to the looked behind him, he saw me, and called | ¢'*™ | People of Judah, behold, it 1s written in to me. And I answered. ‘Here 1 am.’ And |t%r-410 | ‘the Book of Jashar.* He said: es - ’ . y 16"[ch. 3:29; he said to me, “Who are you? I answered ‘favs, | — Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your him, ‘I am an Amalekite. *And he said to 37; Matt. high places! me *‘Stand beside me and kill me, for | (7775 "How the mighty have fallen! anguish has seized me, and yet my life still 17" 333: | 2s Tell it not in Gath, lingers.’ So I stood beside him and killed 184osh, ‘publish it not in the streets of him, because I was sure that he could not | ore, 95.97 Ashkelon, live after he had fallen. “And I took the pes “lest the daughters of the Philistines crown that was on his head and the armlet | 319; amos rejoice, 3 3:9] “[Ex. that was on his arm, and I have brought 15:20; Judg. | 1 Septuagint; Hebrew the Bow, which may be the name of the them here to my lord.” ft 1:34] lament's tune 2 Or of the upright | | have not lived in a house. God has accompanied His elect people throughout their wanderings (vv. 6, 7). Not until He has planted them in their place (v. 10) and they enjoy “rest” (v. 11) that exceeds what they already have under David (v. 1) will He allow a permanent house to be built for His name (v, 13). | | have been with you. See note 1 Sam. 16:18. a great name. The declaration of a great name recalls the divine prom- ise made to the patriarch Abraham in Gen. 12:2. Cf. 8:13, where David “made a name for himself” | the Lorp will make you a house. Having declined David's offer to build Him a house (temple; v. 5), the Lord counters with the gracious announcement that He will instead establish a dynasty for David. | your offspring. Solomon. who shall come from your body. The same words were spoken to Abraham in Gen. 15:4. | for my name. It was “for his great name's sake” that the Lord refused to reject His people after their sinful request for a king (1 Sam. 12:22). Now He announces to David that his own son, who will succeed him as king, will build a temple “for my name.” For an explication of the significance of God’s name, see Ex. 34:5-7, and note on 1 Sam. 17:45. | father ...a son. The full significance of this promise, expressive of the special relationship that the Lord establishes with the Davidic kings (Ps. 2:7; 89:18-37), is ultimately realized in Christ (Mark 1:11; Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5). | | will discipline him. As a father, the Lord will discipline the royal son when he does wrong, but His covenantal love will never be taken away from him. Though the punishment is severe, extending even to the loss of land and temple (1 Kin. 9:6-9), God's promise to establish forever the throne of David cannot fail. This promise will increasingly come to be understood in messianic terms (Is. 9:7; 11:1-5; Jer. 33:14-26; Mic. 5:2-5). | David went in and sat before the Lorp. Presumably David sat in front of the ark, the symbol of the Lord’s presence (Ex. 25:22; 30:6; Deut. 10:8; Josh. 6:8), It was not usual to sit while praying (Deut. 10:7). Who am I. Having offered God a house, David is overwhelmed by the Lord's declaration that He will build David a house. The humility evident in David's “Who am I" agrees with his recognition that it is the sovereign Lord who has been with him (1 Sam. 16:18 note) to bring him this far. | David is moved by consideration of his own unique status and that of his house (vv. 18-21) to contemplate the uniqueness of his God. He is the only true God, and in His unmerited favor He chose David, and the nation of Israel itself, to be the people through whom His great name would become known (Ex. 15:11-13; Deut. 7:6-8).