Keraia
2 Samuel 7

2 Samuel 7:2

God’s Covenant with David · 2 Samuel 7:1–17
Read 2 Samuel 7

Translations

Modern
…he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
…that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God dwells in the midst of the curtain.”
Latin
…dixit ad Nathan prophetam: Videsne quod ego habitem in domo cedrina, et arca Dei posita sit in medio pellium?

Original

Hebrew
English
…he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”

Notes

2 Samuel 7:2

  • Nathan is recorded in David’s life on three occasions:

    1. here with a promise for David;

    2. in 2 Samuel 12:1–15 with a parable of judgment against David;

    3. in 1 Kings 1:11–27 with a plan for making Solomon David's successor. 

  • A cedar palace would have been made of stone with cedar paneling inside.

2 Samuel 7:1–2

If God had only a tent while David had a palace, people might think David was the true king instead of God. So, David planned to build a temple for God.

2 Samuel 7:1–29

David was not happy just making a tent for the ark (2 Samuel 6:17). He wanted to build a house for God.

Theme notes and profiles

David God’s Covenant with David

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 17:1–15

People

Nathan: Prophet during the reigns of David and Solomon

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant David History of Israel Jerusalem Nathan Promise Samuel, Books of First and Second Temple

Topics

Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of God Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Place of Liberality: David Nathan: A Prophet in the Time of David: His Message to David Concerning the Building of a Temple Palace of David Prophets: Nathan Religious Zeal: King David Temple: Solomon's: David Undertakes the Building of the First Temple: David: Anxious to Build