2 Samuel 7:2

_THAT THE KING SAID UNTO NATHAN THE PROPHET, SEE NOW, I DWELL IN AN HOUSE OF CEDAR, BUT THE ARK OF GOD DWELLETH WITHIN CURTAINS._ See now, I dwell in an house of cedar. The palace which Hiram had sent men and materials to build in Jerusalem had been finished. It was magnificent for that ago, though made wholly of wood: houses in warm countries not being required to possess the solidity and thickness of walls which are requisite for dwellings in regions exposed to rain and cold. Cedar was a rare, valuable, and durable timber. The elegance and splendour of his own royal mansion, contrasted with the mean and temporary tabernacle in which the ark of God was placed, distressed the pious mind of David. To him it appeared that some other provision should now be made for the ordinances of the national religion than had hitherto existed. He felt that although a moveable sanctuary might have comp...

1-3 David being at rest in his palace, considered how he might best employ his leisure and prosperity in the service of God. He formed a design to build a temple for the ark. Nathan here did not speak as a prophet, but as a godly man, encouraging David by his private judgment. We ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work....

Verse 2 Samuel 7:2. _I DWELL IN A HOUSE OF CEDAR_] That is, a house whose principal beams, ceiling, and wainscot, were cedar. _DWELLETH WITHIN CURTAINS._] Having no other residence but the tabernacle, which was a place covered with the _skins_ of beasts, Exodus 26:14....

NATHAN THE PROPHET - Here first mentioned, but playing an important part afterward (e. g. 2 Samuel 12:1; 1Ki 1:10; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29). From the two last passages it appears that he wrote the history of David’s reign, and a part at least of Solomon’s. His distinctive title is the prophet, that of Gad the seer (compare 1 Samuel 9:9). He was probably nuch younger than David. In 2 Samuel 7:3, he spoke his own private opinion; in...

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 7:1 WHEN THE KING SAT IN HIS HOUSE. The order is not chronological; for the words, JEHOVAH HAD GIVEN HIM REST FROM ALL HIS ENEMIES ROUND ABOUT (so the Revised Version, rightly), imply the successful termination, not of all wars necessarily, but certainly of something more than that with the Philistine invaders in the Rephaim valley. A general summary of all David's wars is given in 2 Samuel 8:1; and it was probably after he had subdued the Philistines and Moab, and his throne was now fully established, that in some time of peace, possibly before Hanun forced him into wars which won for him an empire, David sent for Nathan, and told him his full desire. Its position here immediately after the account of the bringing o

THAT THE KING SAID UNTO NATHAN THE PROPHET,.... This is the first time this prophet is made mention of, but often afterwards, yet who he was, and from whence he came, is not known; he appears to be a man of great piety and prudence, as well as endowed with a prophetic spirit, and was very familiar with David, and perhaps dwelt in his palace; being a man on all accounts fit for conversation with princes, to whom David imparted what he had been meditating upon in his heart. The Jews have a tradition t that he was the same with Jonathan the son of Shimea, the brother of David, 2 Samuel 21:21; which is not very likely: SEE NOW, I DWELL IN AN HOUSE OF CEDAR; made of the cedars of Lebanon; see what a spacious palace it is: BUT THE ARK OF GOD DWELLETH WITHIN CURTAINS; in a tabernacle within curtains, as the Targum; not the tabernacle of Moses, for that wa

4. THE LORD'S PROMISE TO DAVID AND THE COVENANT CHAPTER 7 _ 1. David's desire (2 Samuel 7:1)_ 2. Nathan receives the message for David (2 Samuel 7:4) 3. David in the presence of Jehovah (2 Samuel 7:18) We reach now a climax. The Lord speaks and reveals His great purposes He had in His eternal councils for David, the king after His own heart. We behold the king in peace sitting in his own house; he had rest from all his enemies. In pious meditation the heart of the king had but one great thought, one great ambition. The prophet Nathan is in his presence and to him he speaks. “See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains.” And Nathan told him to

2 SAMUEL 7. DAVID PROPOSES TO BUILD A TEMPLE FOR THE ARK BUT YAHWEH PREFERS TO DWELL IN A TENT, AS HERETOFORE. HE PROMISES DAVID THAT HIS DYNASTY SHALL ALWAYS OCCUPY THE THRONE (D). An independent narrative, complete in itself; not from any of the main sources, but probably composed towards the close of the Jewish Monarchy by a writer of the Deuteronomic school. 2 Samuel 7:13, referring to Solomon and his Temple, is a later addition. This Divine promise of permanence to the Davidic dynasty is an early form of the Messianic Hope of Israel. 2 SAMUEL 7:1. David proposes to build a house of cedar for the Ark; Nathan assures him of the Divine approval. 2 SAMUEL 7:4. Nathan, however, was premature.

NATHAN. The first occurrence of his name. Compare 1 Chronicles 29:29. An important figure in David's reign, and associated with his son Solomon (verses: 2 Samuel 7:12 2 Samuel 7:13. 2 Samuel 12:25; 1 Kings 1:10). SEE NOW. Figure of speech _Asterismos._ App-6. OF. Genitive of Material. App-17, GOD. Hebrew. _Elohim_. App-4. CURTAINS. Put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Cause) for the tent formed by them. Compare...

_Nathan the prophet_ The first mention of one of the most eminent men in the reigns of David and Solomon. It was he who rebuked David for his sin with Bathsheba (ch. 2 Samuel 12:1 ff.); who became Solomon's tutor (ch. 2 Samuel 12:25, note), and took a leading part in securing his succession to the throne (1 Kings 1:22 ff.); who wrote a history of the reign of David and of part at least of the reign of Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29), from which in all probability a large portion of the books of Samuel, Kings, and Ch