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2 Samuel 7:2-17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 Samuel 7:2-17
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent!”(A) 3 Nathan answered the king, “Whatever is in your heart, go and do, for the Lord is with you.”(B) 4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell David my servant, Thus says the Lord: Is it you who would build me a house to dwell in?(C) 6 I have never dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up from Egypt to this day, but I have been going about in a tent or a tabernacle. 7 As long as I have wandered about among the Israelites, did I ever say a word to any of the judges whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel: Why have you not built me a house of cedar?
8 Now then, speak thus to my servant David, Thus says the Lord of hosts:[a] I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to become ruler over my people Israel.(D) 9 I was with you wherever you went, and I cut down all your enemies before you. And I will make your name like that of the greatest on earth.(E) 10 I will assign a place for my people Israel and I will plant them in it to dwell there; they will never again be disturbed, nor shall the wicked ever again oppress them, as they did at the beginning, 11 and from the day when I appointed judges over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you:(F) 12 (G)when your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He it is[b] who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. If he does wrong, I will reprove him with a human rod and with human punishments;(H) 15 but I will not withdraw my favor from him as I withdrew it from Saul who was before you.(I) 16 Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever.[c](J) 17 In accordance with all these words and this whole vision Nathan spoke to David.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 7:8–16 The message Nathan delivers to David, called the Dynastic Oracle, is prompted by David’s intention to build a house (i.e., a temple) for the Lord, like David’s own house (i.e., palace) of cedar. David is told, in effect, not to bother building a house for the Lord; rather, the Lord will make a house for him—a dynasty, the House of David. Not only will he have descendants (v. 12) who will sit upon the throne of Israel (v. 13), their rule will last forever (vv. 13, 16); and even if they transgress the Lord’s commands, the line of David will never be removed from kingship as Saul was (cf. 1 Sm 13; 15). The oracle establishes the Davidic king as standing in relationship to the Lord as a son to a father (v. 14; cf. Ps 2:7; 89:27). The Dynastic Oracle, with cognate texts in the Scriptures, is the basis for Jewish expectations of an anointed king (1 Sm 12:3, 5), son of David (Mt 21:9); cf. Acts 2:30; Hb 1:5.
- 7:13 He it is: Solomon, in the event.
- 7:16 The unconditional promise made here, and reflected in Ps 89:34–35, stands in contrast to the tradition in Ps 132:12, where the continuation of the line of David depends on their fidelity to the Lord; cf. also 1 Kgs 2:4; 6:12; 8:25.
2 Samuel 7:2-17
New International Version
2 Samuel 7:2-17
New International Version
2 he said to Nathan(A) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house(B) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”(C)
3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind,(D) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:
5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you(E) the one to build me a house to dwell in?(F) 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.(G) I have been moving from place to place with a tent(H) as my dwelling.(I) 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,(J) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd(K) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house(L) of cedar?(M)”’
8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,(N) and appointed you ruler(O) over my people Israel.(P) 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone,(Q) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.(R) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.(S) 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant(T) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.(U) Wicked(V) people will not oppress them anymore,(W) as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[a](X) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.(Y)
“‘The Lord declares(Z) to you that the Lord himself will establish(AA) a house(AB) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest(AC) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,(AD) and I will establish his kingdom.(AE) 13 He is the one who will build a house(AF) for my Name,(AG) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.(AH) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(AI) When he does wrong, I will punish him(AJ) with a rod(AK) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him,(AL) as I took it away from Saul,(AM) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[b]; your throne(AN) will be established(AO) forever.(AP)’”
17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.
Footnotes
- 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
- 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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