1 And it was, when the king dwelt in his house and Yehvah had given him rest roundabout from all his enemies, 2 so the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, and the ark of the Gods dwells in the midst of the curtain.” 3 And Nathan said to the king, “All that is in your heart, go do, for Yehvah is with you.”
4 And it was, on that night, so Yehvah's word was to Nathan, saying, 5 “Go and say to my servant, to David, 'Thus Yehvah said, “Will you build a house for me for my dwelling? 6 For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel's sons from Egypt and unto this day. And I have walked about in a tent and in a dwelling. 7 In all that I have walked about among all Israel's sons, have I spoken a word with one of Israel's tribes whom I have commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built for me a house of cedar?'”'”
8 “And now, thus shall you say to my servant, to David, 'Thus Yehvah of hosts said, “I took you from the sheepfold, from after the flock, to be ruler over my people, over Israel. 9 And I have been with you in all that you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I have made for you a great name, as the name of the great ones that are on the earth. 10 And I have set a place for my people, for Israel, and planted him, and he has settled under him, and move no more. Nor sons of injustice again afflict him as in the beginning. 11 And from the day when I commanded judges over my people, Israel, so I have given you rest from all your enemies. And Yehvah has declared to you that Yehvah shall build a house for you.”'”
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you lay down with your fathers, so I shall raise up your seed after you who has gone out from your belly, i and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for my name. And I will establish a throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be for him for a father, and he will be to me for a son. When in his committing iniquity, so I will correct him with a rod of men and with strokes of sons of Adam. 15 And my kindness will not turn aside from him as I turned from with Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be confirmed forever before you, and your throne will be established forever.” ii 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, thus Nathan spoke to David.
18 And David the king went and sat before Yehvah, and said, “Who am I, Lords Yehvih, iii and what is my house that you have brought me unto here? 19 And this is yet small in your eyes, Lords Yehvih. And you have spoken also to your servant's house to a distance, and this the law of the Adam, iv Lords Yehvih. 20 And what more can David yet speak to you, and you know your servant, Lords Yehvih. 21 For your word's sake, and according to your heart you have done all this greatness to make your servant know.”
22 “Therefore, you are great, Lords Yehvih, for there is none like you; and there are no Gods except you in all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And who is like your people, like Israel, one nation on the earth that Gods went v to redeem for himself for a people and to set for himself a name and to make for yourselves the greatness and fearful things for your land before your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, nations, and his gods. vi 24 And you established for yourself your people Israel for yourself for a people forever. And you, Yehvah, shall be to them for Gods.”
25 “And now, Yehvah Gods, the word that you spoke about your servant and about his house, raise up forever, and do just as you have spoken. 26 And may your name be great forever, saying, 'Yehvah of hosts, Gods over Israel.' And may your servant David's house be established before you. 27 For you, Yehvah of hosts, Gods of Israel, have uncovered your servants ear, saying, 'I will build for you a house.' Therefore, your servant has found with his heart to pray to you this prayer. 28 And now, Lords Yehvah, you are the Gods, and your words are truth, and you have spoken to your servant this good.”
29 “And now, be willing and bless your servant's house to be forever before you, for you, Lords Yehvih, have spoken and from your blessing, your servant's house will be blessed forever.”
Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.
- יךֶמי) mê`eykhâ) “your belly” - see footnote in Genesis 25:23. ^
- After the split in 1 Kings 12, the Northern kingdom dynasties did not last very long. David's lasted all the way to the Babylonian captivity. Moreover, David will yet rule Israel, see Jeremiah 30:9; 34:23-24; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Hosea 3:5. Notice also Jeremiah 33:17, “David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne.” Furthermore, David's throne is established forever also via Christ (Isaiah 9:7; Matthew 1:1 “son of David”). See also Psalm 89 in which Ethan bemoans and questions God about His promise to David. ^
- ה יוההו) yehvih) “Yehvih” - see footnote for Genesis 2:4. ^
- םם םד םא ה תת רַוֹת זתאאת) zo't torat hâ'âdâm) “this the law of Adam” - easy Hebrew, uncertain in meaning. Variously translated, e.g. NKJV “is this the manner of man . . .?”; NAS “this is the custom of man”; YLT “this is the law of the Man”; Green “is this the law of men . . .?” ^
- ו לוה ם ה) hâlkhu) “went” - plural verb, i.e. “they went.” Thus, “Gods went” ים ה לה כו־אל הלוה) hâlkhu-'elohiym). ^
- What gods? See Exodus 18:11 and footnote. ^
And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed. -- “seed” has to do with descendants, both physical or spiritual, e.g. Genesis 4:25; 21:12-13; 22:18; 26:4; 28:14; 2 Samuel 7:12; 1 Chronicles 16:13; 17:11; Psalm 89:3-4, 29, 36; 105:6; Isaiah 45:19; Jeremiah 31:36-37; John 7:42; Acts 13:23; Romans 1:3; 4:16; 9:6-8; Galatians 3:8, 16-19, 29; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 2:16; and 11:11. Christ never married but has seed (Isaiah 53:10).