9 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
I have pursued H7291 mine enemies, H341 and overtaken H5381 them: neither did I turn again H7725 till they were consumed. H3615 I have wounded H4272 them that they were not able H3201 to rise: H6965 they are fallen H5307 under my feet. H7272 For thou hast girded H247 me with strength H2428 unto the battle: H4421 thou hast subdued H3766 under me those that rose up H6965 against me. Thou hast also given H5414 me the necks H6203 of mine enemies; H341 that I might destroy H6789 them that hate H8130 me. They cried, H7768 but there was none to save H3467 them: even unto the LORD, H3068 but he answered H6030 them not. Then did I beat H7833 them small as the dust H6083 before H6440 the wind: H7307 I did cast them out H7324 as the dirt H2916 in the streets. H2351
He raiseth up H6965 the poor H1800 out of the dust, H6083 and lifteth H7311 the needy H34 out of the dunghill; H830 That he may set H3427 him with princes, H5081 even with the princes H5081 of his people. H5971
He maketh H7737 my feet H7272 like H7737 hinds' H355 feet: and setteth H5975 me upon my high places. H1116 He teacheth H3925 my hands H3027 to war; H4421 so that a bow H7198 of steel H5154 is broken H5181 by mine arms. H2220 Thou hast also given H5414 me the shield H4043 of thy salvation: H3468 and thy gentleness H6031 H6038 hath made me great. H7235 Thou hast enlarged H7337 my steps H6806 under me; so that my feet H7166 did not slip. H4571 I have pursued H7291 mine enemies, H341 and destroyed H8045 them; and turned not again H7725 until I had consumed H3615 them.
Glorious things H3513 are spoken H1696 of thee, O city H5892 of God. H430 Selah. H5542 I will make mention H2142 of Rahab H7294 and Babylon H894 to them that know H3045 me: behold Philistia, H6429 and Tyre, H6865 with Ethiopia; H3568 this man was born H3205 there. And of Zion H6726 it shall be said, H559 This and that man H376 was born H3205 in her: and the highest H5945 himself shall establish H3559 her. The LORD H3068 shall count, H5608 when he writeth up H3789 the people, H5971 that this man was born H3205 there. Selah. H5542
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 7
Commentary on 2 Samuel 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
2Sa 7:1-3. Nathan Approves the Purpose of David to Build God A House.
2. the king said unto Nathan the prophet, 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 age, 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 the rarest and most valuable timber. The elegance and splendor 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.
3. Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart—The piety of the design commended it to the prophet's mind, and he gave his hasty approval and encouragement to the royal plans. The prophets, when following the impulse of their own feelings, or forming conjectural opinions, fell into frequent mistakes. (See on 1Sa 16:6; 2Ki 4:27).
2Sa 7:4-17. God Appoints His Successor to Build It.
4-17. it came to pass that night, that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan—The command was given to the prophet on the night immediately following; that is, before David could either take any measures or incur any expenses.
11. Also the Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house—As a reward for his pious purpose, God would increase and maintain the family of David and secure the succession of the throne to his dynasty. [See on 1Ch 17:10].
12. I will set up thy seed after thee, &c.—It is customary for the oldest son born after the father's succession to the throne to succeed him in his dignity as king. David had several sons by Bath-sheba born after his removal to Jerusalem (2Sa 5:14-16; compare 1Ch 3:5). But by a special ordinance and promise of God, his successor was to be a son born after this time; and the departure from the established usage of the East in fixing the succession, can be accounted for on no other known ground, except the fulfilment of the divine promise.
13. He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever—This declaration referred, in its primary application, to Solomon, and to the temporal kingdom of David's family. But in a larger and sublimer sense, it was meant of David's Son of another nature (Heb 1:8). [See on 1Ch 17:14.]
2Sa 7:18-29. David's Prayer and Thanksgiving.
18. Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord—Sitting was anciently an attitude for worship (Ex 17:12; 1Sa 4:13; 1Ki 19:4). As to the particular attitude David sat, most probably, upon his heels. It was the posture of the ancient Egyptians before the shrines; it is the posture of deepest respect before a superior in the East. Persons of highest dignity sit thus when they do sit in the presence of kings and it is the only sitting attitude assumed by the modern Mohammedans in their places and rites of devotion.
19. is this the manner of man, O Lord God?—that is, is it customary for men to show such condescension to persons so humble as I am? (See 1Ch 17:17.)
20. what can David say more unto thee?—that is, my obligations are greater than I can express.