17 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 cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.

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

And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

Wheresoever I have 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?

Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:

And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will 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,

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 build thee an house.

11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

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 thee:

14 But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

16 And David the king came and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

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 high degree, O Lord God.

18 What can David speak more to thee for the honour of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19 O Lord, for thy servant's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all this greatness, in making known all these great things.

20 O Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt?

22 For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Lord, becamest their God.

23 Therefore now, Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and concerning his house be established for ever, and do as thou hast said.

24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

25 For thou, O my God, hast told thy servant that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee.

26 And now, Lord, thou art God, and hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

27 Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O Lord, and it shall be blessed for ever.

18 Now after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took Gath and her towns out of the hand of the Philistines.

And he smote Moab; and the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

And David smote Hadarezer king of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to stablish his dominion by the river Euphrates.

And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots.

And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadarezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

Then David put garrisons in Syriadamascus; and the Syrians became David's servants, and brought gifts. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

And David took the shields of gold that were on the servants of Hadarezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

Likewise from Tibhath, and from Chun, cities of Hadarezer, brought David very much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brasen sea, and the pillars, and the vessels of brass.

Now when Tou king of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadarezer king of Zobah;

10 He sent Hadoram his son to king David, to enquire of his welfare, and to congratulate him, because he had fought against Hadarezer, and smitten him; (for Hadarezer had war with Tou;) and with him all manner of vessels of gold and silver and brass.

11 Them also king David dedicated unto the Lord, with the silver and the gold that he brought from all these nations; from Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 Moreover Abishai the son of Zeruiah slew of the Edomites in the valley of salt eighteen thousand.

13 And he put garrisons in Edom; and all the Edomites became David's servants. Thus the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice among all his people.

15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud, recorder.

16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Shavsha was scribe;

17 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king.

17 3 David is forbidden to build an house unto the Lord. 12 Christ is promised under the figure of Solomon. 18 David giveth thanks, 23 and prayeth unto God.

Now (A)afterward when David dwelt in his house, he said to Nathan the Prophet, Behold, I dwell in an house of [a]cedar trees, but the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant remaineth under [b]curtains.

Then Nathan said to David, Do [c]all that is in thine heart: for God is with thee.

And the same [d]night even the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

Go, and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

For I have dwelt in no house since the day that I brought out the children of Israel unto this day, but I have been from tent to [e]tent, and from habitation to habitation.

Wherefore I have [f]walked with all Israel, spake I one 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 cedar trees?

Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote [g]and from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be a prince over my people Israel.

And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have destroyed all thine enemies out of thy sight, and have [h]made thee a name, like the name of the great men that are in the earth.

(Also I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will [i]plant it, that they may dwell in their place, and move no more: neither shall the [j]wicked people [k]vex them anymore, as at the beginning,

10 And since the time that I commanded judges over my people Israel) And I will subdue all thine enemies: therefore I say unto thee, that the Lord will [l]build thee an house.

11 And when thy days shall be fulfilled to go with thy fathers, then will I raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons, and will establish his kingdom.

12 He shall build me an house, and I will establish his throne [m]forever.

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 [n]thee.

14 But I will establish him in mine house, and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever,

15 According to all these words, and according to all this vision. So Nathan spake to David.

16 ¶ And David the king [o]went in and [p]sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord God, and what is mine house, that thou hast brought me [q]hitherto?

17 Yet thou esteeming this a small thing, O God, hast also spoken concerning the house of thy servant for a great while, and hast regarded me according to the estate of a man of [r]high degree, O Lord God.

18 What can David desire more of thee for the honor of thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.

19 O Lord, for thy servant’s sake, even according to thine [s]heart hast thou done all this great thing to declare all magnificence.

20 Lord, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee according to all that we have heard with our ears.

21 Moreover what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whose God went to redeem them to be his people, and to make thyself a Name, and to do great and terrible things by casting out Nations from before thy people, whom thou hast delivered out of Egypt?

22 For thou hast ordained thy people Israel to be thine own people forever, and thou Lord art become their God.

23 Therefore now Lord, let the thing that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be confirmed forever, and do as thou hast said,

24 And let thy Name be stable and magnified forever, that it may be said, The Lord of hosts, God of Israel, is the God of [t]Israel, and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

25 For thou, O my God, hast [u]revealed unto the ear of thy servant, that thou wilt build him an house: therefore thy servant hath [v]been bold to pray before thee.

26 Therefore now Lord (for thou art [w]God, and hast spoken this goodness unto thy servant.)

27 Now therefore it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee forever: for thou, O Lord, hast blessed it, and it shall be blessed forever.

18 1 The battle of David against the Philistines, 2 And against Moab, 3 Zobah, 5 Aram, 12 And Edom.

And after this, David smote the Philistines, and subdued them, and took [x]Gath, and the villages thereof out of the hand of the Philistines.

And he smote Moab, and the Moabites became David’s servants, and [y]brought gifts.

¶ And David smote [z]Hadadezer King of Zobah unto Hamath, as he went to establish his border by the river [aa]Perath.

And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen, and (B)destroyed all the chariots, but he reserved of them an hundred chariots.

¶ Then came the Aramites of Damascus to succor Hadadezer king of Zobah, but David slew of the Aramites two and twenty thousand.

And David put a garrison in Aram of [ab]Damascus, and the Aramites became David’s servants, and brought gifts: and the Lord [ac]preserved David wheresoever he went.

And David took the shields of gold that were of the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.

And from [ad]Tibhath, and from Chun (cities of Hadadezer) brought David exceeding much brass, wherewith Solomon made the brazen (C)Sea, and the pillars and the vessels of brass.

¶ Then Tou King of Hamath heard how David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer king of Zobah:

10 Therefore he sent [ae]Hadoram his son to king David, to salute him, and to rejoice with him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and beaten him (for Tou had war with Hadadezer) who brought all vessels of gold and silver and brass.

11 And king David did dedicate them unto the Lord, with the silver and gold that he brought from all the nations, from [af]Edom, and from Moab, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines, and from Amalek.

12 ¶ And Abishai the son of Zeruiah smote of Edom in the salt valley [ag]eighteen thousand,

13 And he put a garrison in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants: and the Lord preserved David wheresoever he went.

14 So David reigned over all Israel, and executed judgment and justice to all his people.

15 And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host, and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud Recorder,

16 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the Priests, and [ah]Shavsha the Scribe,

17 (D)And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the [ai]Cherethites and the Pelethites: and the sons of David were chief about the King.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 17:1 Well built and fair.
  2. 1 Chronicles 17:1 That is, in tents covered with skin.
  3. 1 Chronicles 17:2 As yet God had not revealed to the Prophet what he purposed concerning David: therefore seeing God favored David, he spake what he thought.
  4. 1 Chronicles 17:3 After that Nathan had spoken to David.
  5. 1 Chronicles 17:5 That is, in a tent which removed to and fro.
  6. 1 Chronicles 17:6 Meaning, wheresoever his Ark went, which was a sign of his presence.
  7. 1 Chronicles 17:7 Of a shepherd of sheep I made thee a shepherd of men: so that thou camest not to this dignity through thine own merits, but by my pure grace.
  8. 1 Chronicles 17:8 Or, gotten thee fame.
  9. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Make them sure that they shall not remove.
  10. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Hebrew, sons of iniquity.
  11. 1 Chronicles 17:9 Or, consume.
  12. 1 Chronicles 17:10 Will give thee great posterity.
  13. 1 Chronicles 17:12 That is, unto the coming of Christ: for then these figures should cease.
  14. 1 Chronicles 17:13 Which was Saul.
  15. 1 Chronicles 17:16 He went into the tent where the Ark was, showing what we ought to do when we receive any benefits of the Lord.
  16. 1 Chronicles 17:16 Or, remained.
  17. 1 Chronicles 17:16 Meaning to this kingly estate.
  18. 1 Chronicles 17:17 Thou hast promised a kingdom that shall continue to me and my posterity, and that Christ shall proceed of me.
  19. 1 Chronicles 17:19 Freely and according to the purpose of thy will, without any deserving.
  20. 1 Chronicles 17:24 That is, he showeth himself in deed to be their God, by delivering them from dangers, and preserving them.
  21. 1 Chronicles 17:25 Thou hast declared unto me by Nathan the Prophet.
  22. 1 Chronicles 17:25 Hebrew, hath found.
  23. 1 Chronicles 17:26 And canst not break promise.
  24. 1 Chronicles 18:1 Which in 2 Sam. 8:1, is called the bridle of bondage, because it was a strong town, and kept the country round about in subjection.
  25. 1 Chronicles 18:2 Or, paid tribute.
  26. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Or, Hadadezer.
  27. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Or, Euphrates.
  28. 1 Chronicles 18:6 Or, Darmesek.
  29. 1 Chronicles 18:6 That is, in all things that he enterprised.
  30. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Which in 2 Sam. 8:8, are called Betah and Berothai.
  31. 1 Chronicles 18:10 Called also Joram, 2 Sam. 8:10.
  32. 1 Chronicles 18:11 Because the Edomites and the Syrians joined their power together, it is said, 2 Sam. 8:12, that the Aramites were spoiled.
  33. 1 Chronicles 18:12 Which is understood that Joab slew twelve thousand, as is in the title of the threescore Psalm and Abishai the rest.
  34. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Or, Seraiah.
  35. 1 Chronicles 18:17 Read 2 Sam. 8:18.

God’s Promise to David(A)

17 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.(B)

Nathan replied to David, “Whatever you have in mind,(C) do it, for God is with you.”

But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying:

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: You(D) are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders[a] whom I commanded to shepherd my people, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?(E)”’

“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler(F) over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men on earth. And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 10 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders(G) over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies.

“‘I declare to you that the Lord will build a house for you: 11 When your days are over and you go to be with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He is the one who will build(H) a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.(I) 13 I will be his father,(J) and he will be my son.(K) I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne(L) will be established forever.(M)’”

15 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer(N)

16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I, Lord God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 17 And as if this were not enough in your sight, my God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You, Lord God, have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men.

18 “What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, 19 Lord. For the sake(O) of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises.(P)

20 “There is no one like you, Lord, and there is no God but you,(Q) as we have heard with our own ears. 21 And who is like your people Israel—the one nation on earth whose God went out to redeem(R) a people for himself, and to make a name for yourself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? 22 You made your people Israel your very own forever,(S) and you, Lord, have become their God.

23 “And now, Lord, let the promise(T) you have made concerning your servant and his house be established forever. Do as you promised, 24 so that it will be established and that your name will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty, the God over Israel, is Israel’s God!’ And the house of your servant David will be established before you.

25 “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. 26 You, Lord, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant. 27 Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight;(U) for you, Lord, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”

David’s Victories(V)

18 In the course of time, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its surrounding villages from the control of the Philistines.

David also defeated the Moabites,(W) and they became subject to him and brought him tribute.

Moreover, David defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah,(X) in the vicinity of Hamath, when he went to set up his monument at[b] the Euphrates River.(Y) David captured a thousand of his chariots, seven thousand charioteers and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He hamstrung(Z) all but a hundred of the chariot horses.

When the Arameans of Damascus(AA) came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand of them. He put garrisons in the Aramean kingdom of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to him and brought him tribute. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David took the gold shields carried by the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. From Tebah[c] and Kun, towns that belonged to Hadadezer, David took a great quantity of bronze, which Solomon used to make the bronze Sea,(AB) the pillars and various bronze articles.

When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent his son Hadoram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer, who had been at war with Tou. Hadoram brought all kinds of articles of gold, of silver and of bronze.

11 King David dedicated these articles to the Lord, as he had done with the silver and gold he had taken from all these nations: Edom(AC) and Moab, the Ammonites and the Philistines, and Amalek.(AD)

12 Abishai son of Zeruiah struck down eighteen thousand Edomites(AE) in the Valley of Salt. 13 He put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became subject to David. The Lord gave David victory wherever he went.

David’s Officials(AF)

14 David reigned(AG) over all Israel,(AH) doing what was just and right for all his people. 15 Joab(AI) son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok(AJ) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek[d](AK) son of Abiathar were priests; Shavsha was secretary; 17 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites;(AL) and David’s sons were chief officials at the king’s side.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 17:6 Traditionally judges; also in verse 10
  2. 1 Chronicles 18:3 Or to restore his control over
  3. 1 Chronicles 18:8 Hebrew Tibhath, a variant of Tebah
  4. 1 Chronicles 18:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Samuel 8:17); most Hebrew manuscripts Abimelek