that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD dwelleth under curtains. 2And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee. 3And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in: 5for I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel, unto this day; but [1]have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. 6In all places wherein I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedar? 7Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the [2]sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be [3]prince over my people Israel: 8and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth. 9And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their
because his next three chapters (xviii.—xx.) are devoted to wars (cp. 2 Sam. viii. and x.).
Nathan] The prophet of the court in the reign of David: see e.g. 2 Sam. xii.; 1 Kin. i.
the ark of the covenant] So called because it contained the two tables of the covenant, 1 Kin. viii. 9.
2. in thine heart] The heart according to Heb. thought is the seat of intention and purpose.
3. the same night] Gen. xx. 3; 1 Sam. iii. 2, 3; 1 Kin. iii. 5; Job iv. 12, 13.
5. I brought up Israel] i.e. out of Egypt (so Sam.).
but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another] Sam. but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. The Heb. text of Chron. defies translation; that of Sam. is better.
6. the judges] A better reading than the tribes (Sam.).
7. sheepcote] Better as mg. pasture.
9. I will appoint, etc.] i.e. will establish them in Canaan with complete ascendancy over their enemies.
