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
Then David H1732 the king H4428 stood up H6965 upon his feet, H7272 and said, H559 Hear H8085 me, my brethren, H251 and my people: H5971 As for me, I had in mine heart H3824 to build H1129 an house H1004 of rest H4496 for the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD, H3068 and for the footstool H1916 H7272 of our God, H430 and had made ready H3559 for the building: H1129 But God H430 said H559 unto me, Thou shalt not build H1129 an house H1004 for my name, H8034 because thou hast been a man H376 of war, H4421 and hast shed H8210 blood. H1818
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
And David H1732 said H559 to Solomon, H8010 My son, H1121 as for me, it was in my mind H3824 to build H1129 an house H1004 unto the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 my God: H430 But the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 came to me, saying, H559 Thou hast shed H8210 blood H1818 abundantly, H7230 and hast made H6213 great H1419 wars: H4421 thou shalt not build H1129 an house H1004 unto my name, H8034 because thou hast shed H8210 much H7227 blood H1818 upon the earth H776 in my sight. H6440
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
For my thoughts H4284 are not your thoughts, H4284 neither are your ways H1870 my ways, H1870 saith H5002 the LORD. H3068 For as the heavens H8064 are higher H1361 than the earth, H776 so are my ways H1870 higher H1361 than your ways, H1870 and my thoughts H4284 than your thoughts. H4284
O G5599 the depth G899 of the riches G4149 both G2532 of the wisdom G4678 and G2532 knowledge G1108 of God! G2316 how G5613 unsearchable G419 are his G846 judgments, G2917 and G2532 his G846 ways G3598 past finding out! G421 For G1063 who G5101 hath known G1097 the mind G3563 of the Lord? G2962 or G2228 who G5101 hath been G1096 his G846 counsellor? G4825
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