1 Chronicles 17

See the Contents of this Chapter, 2 Sam.7.

1. Now it came to pass when David dwelt in his house: [That kis, when he had attained to rest and peace] that David said unto Nathan the Prophet, Behold, I dwell in an house of Cedar, but the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD (remaineth) under curtains. [this History is also described, 2 Sam.7. almost verbatim. See there a more large Exposition of obscure places.]

2. Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart for God is with thee.

3. But it came to pass the same night, that the Word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4. Go, and say unto David my servant, Thus saith the LORD: Thou shalt build me no house to dwell in.

5. For I have dwelt in no house from that day that I brought up Israel [Understand, out of Egypt, from 2 Sam.7.5.] unto this day: but have gone [Hebr. been] from Tent to Tent [heb. out of the tent unto the Tent] and from Tabernacle (to Tabernacle.) This is said in regard the Tabernacle continued not in any fixed place, neither when Israel was in the wilderness, nor when they were in the land of Canaan.]

6. Where so ever I have walked with all Israel, [That is, where so ever the Ark of the Covenant was brought, upon which I do manifest my presence] spake I a word to one of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, why do ye not build me an house of Cedar?

7. Now then, thus shalt thou say unto my servant, unto David, thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepfold, from after the sheep, that thou shouldest be a Leader over my people Israel.

8. And I have been with thee whither so ever thou hast gone, etc I have destroy all thine enemies from before thy face: and I have made thee a name, as the name of Great (men) is, that are upon the earth.

9. And I have appointed a place for my people Israel, and planted him, that be may dwell in his place, and be no more driven to and fro, [That is, they shall not be transported from one place to another] and the children of perverseness [that is, wicked men that are wholly given up to iniquity] shall not weaken them any more as at the first.

10. And from those days that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel: and have humbled [That is, quelled, subdued] all thine enemies: I have also told thee, that the LORD [that is, I; for the Lord speaketh here] will build thee an house. [that is, that he will give thee posterity to inherit thy Kingdom. See below v.25,27.]

11. And it shall come to pass, when thy days [To wit, the days of thy life] shall be fulfilled, that thou goest to thy Fathers, [that is, that thou shalt die] then I wil cause thy seed to rise up after thee, [Compare 2 Sam.7.v.12. with the annotate.] which shall be of thy sons, and I will establish his kingdom. [Understand here not onely Salomon, and other of Davids posterity, but also Christ himself; for Salomon Kingdom did not continued always, but Christs Kingdom continueth for ever, Luk.1.32,33.]

12. He shall build me an house: [Salomon built an house of wood and stone, but Christ a spiritual house, which is his Church] and I will establish his throne for ever. [this suiteth onely with Christ, not with Salomon.]

13. I will be a Father unto him, and he shall be a son unto me: and I will not turn my mercy (away) from him, as I took (the same) away from him that was before thee. [He meaneth hereby Saul, who for his disobedience was deposed from the Kingdom.]

14. But I will settle him in mine house, and in my kingdom [that is, in my church] for ever, and his throne shall be establish forever.

15. According to all these words, and according to all this vision; [That is, according to all these words, revealed and commanded by visions] so did Nathan speak unto David.

16. Then David the King came in, and continued [To wit, so long, until he had finished his prayer, which followeth here.] before the face of the LORD: [understand this thus, that David sat before the Ark of the Covenant, which was a token of Gods presence] and he said, who am I, LORD God? [see Gen.32.10.] and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hither to? [to wit, to the Royal Dignity.]

17. And this was (a) small (thing) kin thine eyes, O God, therefore thou hast spoken of thy servants house for a great while hence, [That is, of things that are yet altar off, and which should not come to pass till along while after my time] and thou hast furnished me with this exaltation [or, excellence, or, eminency] after the manner of men, [to wit, speaking unto me most graciously by Nathan. Heb. after the manner (or order) of a man. See 2 Sam.7.9. Or thus: Thou hast regarded me after the manner of a man of high degree to wit, whereas I was before but a shepherd.] O LORD God.

18. What shall David add thereunto more with thee, concerning the honor [To wit, done, or shewed] to thy servant? [as if he had said, Words do fail me, to set forth and publish thy mercies as they ought to be proclaimed] but thou knowest thy servant well.

19. LORD, for thy servants sake, [By the servant of the Lord some do here understand our Saviour Jesus Christ promised unto the fathers; as Isa.chap.49. vers.6. and elsewhere] and according to thine heart [that is, according to thy loving kindness] hast thou done all these great things: to make known all these great things.

20. LORD, there is none like unto thee, and there is no God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. [Which appeareth, and is made manifest by all the wonderful works & acts, which thou hast done since the world began, especially unto our Fathers, as we have heard of them.]

21. And who is like unto thy people Israel, an onely people upon the earth, whom God went to redeem (to be) a people unto himself, [Israel sought not God, but God sought Israel, and chose them for his people, to consecrate and set them apart for himself. This is also to be understood of spiritual Israel; that is, the elect children of God: for no man cometh to Christ the fountain of life, unless the Father draw him.] that thou mightiest make thee a name of great and terrible things, by driving out the Heathen from the face of thy people, whom thou hast delivered out of Egypt.

22. And thou hast made thy people Israel (to be) a people unto thee for ever: and thou LORD didst become a God unto them.

23. Now then, LORD, that word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, let that be versified for ever; and do according as thou hast spoken.

24. Yea let it be verified [To wit, that which thou hast spoken unto thy servant] and let thy Name be magnified for ever; let it be said, The LORD of hosts, the thy servant be established before thy face.

25. For thou, my God, hast revealed before the ear of thy servant, [to wit, discovering unto him by Nathan the Prophet, what thou in thy counsel hast determined concerning him] that wilt build him an house: therefore hath thy servant found (in his heart) [this is here inserted out of 2 Sam. Chap.7. ver.27.] to pray before thy face. [what David prayed at this time is described more largely, 2 Sam.chap.7.]

26. Now then, LORD, thou art that God: and thou hast spoken this good (thing) concerning thy servant.

27. Now then, it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thy face for ever: for thou, LORD, hast blessed it, and it shall be blessed for ever.