2Samuel 7:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, and the LORD had given him rest round about from all his enemies;
2Samuel 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.
2Samuel 7:3 And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
One day while David was sitting in his house enjoying the peace that the LORD had given him from all his enemies, David shared something that was on his heart with the prophet Nathan. He stated a couple of obvious facts; he lived in a house made of cedar, the most valuable of woods, while the ark of God occupied a tent. Nathan didn’t have to hear anymore; he recognized the implication—that’s just not right. The prophet told David to go ahead and act on what was in his heart because the LORD “is with you.” In other words, God would bless his actions to rectify the situation.
2Samuel 7:4 ¶ And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
2Samuel 7:5 Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?
2Samuel 7:6 Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle.
2Samuel 7:7 In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
That night the LORD spoke to Nathan and told him to go tell David that he was wrong; he could not build a house for the LORD (the ark of His presence). He was to tell David that the LORD had walked in a tent and tabernacle ever since bringing the Israelites out of Egypt. Not once had He complained or asked the men whom He had appointed as the spiritual leaders of the people of Israel why they had not built Him a house of cedar.
2Samuel 7:8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
2Samuel 7:9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
The LORD instructed Nathan to go and remind “my servant” David that He had chosen him, a lowly shepherd, to rule over His people Israel. What a beautiful title the LORD gave David—His servant. In the Hebrew it is a word that recognizes David as a willing servant and worshipper of the LORD.
The LORD continued by reminding David how He had always been with him and protected him from his enemies and established him as one who would go down in history as one of the greatest men on earth. I think that observation is made in reference to being “great” in God’s eyes in particular.
2Samuel 7:10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
2Samuel 7:11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD telleth thee that he will make thee an house.
Nathan was to tell David that the LORD had appointed this place (the land of Canaan) for the people of Israel, God’s people, as a place that they could call their own. He wanted to establish them permanently and protect them from their enemies, very different from their experience during the times of the men whom the LORD had appointed in the past as judges of Israel.
The LORD then declared that He would make David a house—not an actual building, but that he would always have an heir qualified to rule from his throne. He wanted David to know that He was pleased that his heart was to honor Him.
2Samuel 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
2Samuel 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
2Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
2Samuel 7:15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
2Samuel 7:16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
The LORD went on to promise that He would give David a kingdom that would continue on after his death. The son that succeeded him as king (which we know will be Solomon) would build a house in honor of God’s name, and his throne would be established forever. The LORD promised to be a father to him—not like a father, an actual father, just as He is to every believer today. If he sinned, the LORD would chasten him, using sinful men (as He so often does). He promised that He would never take His mercy away from him like he did from Saul.
The Lord promised that David’s house and his kingdom would be established forever!
That is an amazing promise. I never understood how that could be and wondered at how it could be explained since the house and throne of David obviously came to an end when Babylon conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the city and the temple. I sadly can’t remember which commentator enlightened me when studying some other scripture. Just because the throne of David is not being occupied on earth at this moment doesn’t mean that the position is not still valid before the LORD. That throne will once again be occupied when the LORD Jesus, the son of David, returns to establish His earthly kingdom and rule the world from that throne in Jerusalem.
2Samuel 7:17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
The writer then notes that Nathan delivered the message to David just as the LORD had commanded him.
2Samuel 7:18 ¶ Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?
2Samuel 7:19 And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?
2Samuel 7:20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.
2Samuel 7:21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.
After hearing the LORD’s message to him from Nathan, David went to sit before the LORD—at the tabernacle that housed the ark is to be presumed—and share his heart with Him.
David shared that he didn’t understand why the LORD God chose to bless him and his family so richly. David also recognized that this was but a small thing in the LORD’s sight, but the thought of such extended blessing to his family was beyond David’s comprehension. He didn’t know how to respond. He knew that the LORD knew him intimately. He realized that he had received so much because the LORD was faithful to His word (to make him king as declared by Samuel), and it pleased him to do so and to tell David so.
I couldn’t help but think of the words of David in the psalms.
Psalms 8:4 “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
Psalms 144:3 “LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!”
2Samuel 7:22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
2Samuel 7:23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
2Samuel 7:24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.
David then breaks out in praise and worship of the LORD God, the self-existent, eternal God. Truly there is none that can even be compared to Him; no other being has all His supernatural attributes. Man has never heard of such a being.
This is a truth that the LORD will echo several times throughout scripture, significantly through the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah.
Isaiah 43:10 “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.”
Isaiah 44:8 “Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.”
Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me….”
Jeremiah 10:6 “…there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.”
He then thanks God for setting apart Israel as His own possession among the peoples on earth and for providing for their redemption. He had chosen them to testify to the nations of His awesome power and authority by the miracles He performed in delivering them from Egypt and providing for them in every way. His miracles testified to the truth that He is greater than any of the false gods of the nations.
Because it pleased Him, the LORD had confirmed the people of Israel as His special possession forever through His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
2Samuel 7:25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.
2Samuel 7:26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.
2Samuel 7:27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
David goes on to thank the LORD for His promise to bless him and his descendants by establishing his throne for eternity. He calls for the LORD’s name to be magnified and honored forever as the people witness the fulfillment of His promise to David. May He be acknowledged and worshipped as “The LORD of hosts,” the “God over Israel.” He then thanks God again for establishing the throne of his descendants forever before Him. He affirms again that he understands that the LORD has promised to build him a house, a family dynasty; and it is in gratitude for such blessing that he utters this prayer before Him.
It is important that we praise the LORD and thank Him for His many blessings. It is too easy to take His blessings for granted. We need to take the time to count our blessings and thank our Father in heaven for His grace and mercy in providing them.
2Samuel 7:28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:
2Samuel 7:29 Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.
David closes his prayer by once again recognizing the LORD God as the sovereign God—The matchless power and authority throughout creation. He basically affirms his confidence that God’s word is true and looks forward to seeing His promise to David fulfilled.
It is not wrong to come to the LORD armed with His promises to us as recorded in scripture. The LORD is honored by our faith in Him to prove His word true. He is pleased when we have faith in His word.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
2Samuel 8:1 ¶ And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.
After the events of chapter 7, we are told that David fought against and subdued the Philistines, specifically taking control of Methegammah. Easton’s Dictionary describes this name as a “figurative name for a chief city.” Some commentators connect this name to Gath.
2Samuel 8:2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts.
David also fought to victory with Moab. It seems that he had the people lie on the ground to determine who would die and who would live. The CJB explains it as follows: “…he measured them with a length of cord; for every two lengths to be put to death he designated one length to be kept alive.” Those who were allowed to live became his subjects and paid him tribute.
JFB offered possible insight on this verse: “This war usage was not, perhaps, usually practised by the people of God; but Jewish writers assert that the cause of this particular severity against this people was their having massacred David’s parents and family, whom he had, during his exile, committed to the king of Moab.”
2Samuel 8:3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
2Samuel 8:4 And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
Desiring to extend his border to the Euphrates as had been promised to Israel by the LORD…
Genesis 15:18 “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:”
…David fought with Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, the king of Zobah.
Easton’s Dictionary defines Zobah as “a Syrian province or kingdom… extending from the eastern slopes of Lebanon north and east toward the Euphrates.”
David took a lot of loot from this battle, including 1000 chariots, 700 horsemen and 20,000 footmen. He kept enough horses for 100 chariots and hamstrung the rest (cutting a tendon that made them unable to walk). The fact that he kept any seems to fall into the area of compromise and disobedience by letting human reasoning override God’s specific instructions to Moses regarding Israel’s future king.
Deuteronomy 17:16 “But he shall not multiply horses to himself….”
2Samuel 8:5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
2Samuel 8:6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
Hadadezer had some faithful allies who tried to come to his rescue, the Syrians of Damascus. David killed 22,000 of those troops and put garrisons in that kingdom. They also became subject to David and paid him tribute.
THE reason for David’s great success—“The LORD preserved David wherever he went.”
2Samuel 8:7 And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
2Samuel 8:8 And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
David also took great loot from these battles, including the shields of gold carried by the servants of Hadadezer and a great quantity of brass from the cities of Betah and Berothai.
2Samuel 8:9 ¶ When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
2Samuel 8:10 Then Toi sent Joram his son unto king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi. And Joram brought with him vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass:
2Samuel 8:11 Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
2Samuel 8:12 Of Syria, and of Moab, and of the children of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek, and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
News of David’s victories began to spread and reached the ears of Toi, the king of Hamath. He sent his son Joram with good wishes and congratulations for his success. He was happy to see Hadadezer defeated so soundly because he had been at war with Hadadezer. Joram also brought gifts to David of silver, gold and brass. David dedicated these gifts to the LORD along with the silver and gold that he had gotten from the other nations he had subdued. Those nations included Syria, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek and the spoil from his defeat of Hadadezer.
By dedicating this treasure to the LORD, I believe that David wanted to make provision for the temple that Solomon would build.
2Samuel 8:13 And David gat him a name when he returned from smiting of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men.
2Samuel 8:14 And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David’s servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
David’s name as a powerful king in the region was assured after he returned from defeating the Syrians, an army 18,000 strong, in the valley of salt. He established military outposts throughout Edom, and the people of those lands became his subjects.
Again we are told that it was the LORD that preserved David wherever he went.
2Samuel 8:15 ¶ And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people.
2Samuel 8:16 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
2Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
2Samuel 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief rulers.
David’s rule extended over the whole of Israel, and he ruled using judgment and justice (implied, according to God’s laws). Leaders serving under him included:
Joab, his nephew - top military commander
Jehoshaphat, son of Ahilud - recorder or historian and record keeper
Zadok, son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech, son of Abiathar – priests
We are told in Chronicles that Zadok was appointed to serve at the tabernacle in Gibeon; so I assume that Ahimelech served at the tabernacle of David in Jerusalem. — 1 Chronicles 16:39 “And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon….”
Seraiah – scribe or secretary
Benaiah, son of Jehoiada - overseer of the Cherethites and Pelethites
Some commentators identify these groups as David’s bodyguards. David Guzik offers this in a quote from Baldwin in support of this thought: “These were hired soldiers from Crete. By employing foreign guards to ensure the safety of the king, David would minimize the possibility of becoming the victim of inter-tribal rivalries; these men from Crete could give whole-hearted allegiance to him." Adam Clarke, however, offers the following: “But the Targum translates these two names thus, the archers and the slingers; and this is by far the most likely. It is not at all probable that David was without a company both of archers and slingers.”
David’s sons – chief rulers