17:1 Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David
said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of a
cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD [remaineth]
under b curtains.
(a) Well built and fair.
(b) That is, in tents covered with skin.
17:2 Then Nathan said unto David, Do c all that [is] in thine
heart; for God [is] with thee.
(c) As yet God had not revealed to the prophet what he
purposed concerning David, therefore seeing God
favoured David, he spoke what he thought.
17:3 And it came to pass the same d night, that the word of
God came to Nathan, saying,
(d) After Nathan had spoken to David.
17:5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I
brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from e
tent to tent, and from [one] tabernacle [to another].
(e) That is, in a tent which moved to and fro.
17:6 Wheresoever I have f walked with all Israel, spake I a
word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to
feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house
of cedars?
(f) Meaning, wherever his ark went, which was a sign of his
presence.
17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David,
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the
sheepcote, g [even] from following the sheep, that thou
shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:
(g) Of a shepherd of sheep I made you a shepherd of men: so
that you did not come to this dignity through your own
merits, but by my pure grace.
17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will
h plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and
shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of
wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
(h) Make them sure that they will not move.
17:10 And since the time that I commanded judges [to be] over my
people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies.
Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will i build thee
an house.
(i) Will give you great posterity.
17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne
for k ever.
(k) That is, to the coming of Christ: for then these
figures would cease.
17:13 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will
not take my mercy away from him, as I took [it] from [him]
that was before l thee:
(l) Which was Saul.
17:16 And David the king m came and sat before the LORD, and
said, Who [am] I, O LORD God, and what [is] mine house,
that thou hast brought me n hitherto?
(m) He went into the tent where the Ark was, showing what
we should do when we receive any benefits from the
Lord.
(n) Meaning to this kingly estate.
17:17 And [yet] this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; for
thou hast [also] spoken of thy servant's house for a great
while to come, and hast regarded me according to the
estate of a man of o high degree, O LORD God.
(o) You have promised a kingdom that will continue to me
and my posterity and that Christ will proceed from me.
17:19 O LORD, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own
p heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making
known all [these] great things.
(p) Freely and according to the purpose of your will,
without any deserving.
17:24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified
for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts [is] the God of q
Israel, [even] a God to Israel: and [let] the house of
David thy servant [be] established before thee.
(q) That is, he shows himself indeed to be their God, by
delivering them from dangers, and preserving them.
17:25 For thou, O my God, hast r told thy servant that thou
wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found
[in his heart] to pray before thee.
(r) You have declared to me by Nathan the prophet.
