1 Chronicles Chapter 17

Old Testament Historical 27 Verses

What is 1 Chronicles 17 about?

A priestly perspective on David's reign, his gathering of Temple materials, and preparations for Solomon's building project. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And it came to pass, when David dwelt in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Jehovah [dwelleth] under curtains.
2And Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thy 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 Jehovah, Thou shalt not build me a house to dwell in:
5for I have not dwelt in a 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].
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 be shepherd of my people, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar?
7Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be prince over my people Israel:
8and I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast gone, 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 own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the first,
10and [as] from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will subdue all thine enemies. Moreover I tell thee that Jehovah will build thee a house.
11And it shall come to pass, when thy days are fulfilled that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will set up thy seed after thee, who shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
12He shall build me a house, and I will establish his throne for ever.
13I will be his father, and he shall be my son: and I will not take my lovingkindness away from him, as I took it from him that was before thee;
14but I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom for ever; and his throne shall be established for ever.
15According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.
16Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Jehovah God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?
17And this was a small thing in thine eyes, O God; but thou hast 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 Jehovah God.
18What can David [say] yet more unto thee concerning the honor which is done to thy servant? for thou knowest thy servant.
19O Jehovah, for thy servant`s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make known all [these] great things.
20O Jehovah, there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
21And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, to make thee a name by great and terrible things, in driving out nations from before thy people, whom thou redeemest out of Egypt?
22For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God.
23And now, O Jehovah, let the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, be established for ever, and do as thou hast spoken.
24And let thy name be established and magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and the house of David thy servant is established before thee.
25For thou, O my God, hast revealed to thy servant that thou wilt build him a house: therefore hath thy servant found [in his heart] to pray before thee.
26And now, O Jehovah, thou art God, and hast promised this good thing unto thy servant:
27and now it hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Jehovah, hast blessed, and it is blessed for ever.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“DAVID FORBIDDEN TO BUILD GOD A HOUSE. (Ch1 17:1-10) as David sat in his house--The details of this chapter were given in nearly similar terms (2Sa. 7:1-29). The date was towards the latter end of David's reign, for it is expressly said in the former book to have been at the cessation of all his wars. But as to narrate the preparations for the removal of the ark and the erection of the temple was the principal object of the historian, the exact chronology is not followed.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Compare throughout 2 Samuel 7:0 and the notes found there. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Now - This whole chapter is explained, 2Sa. 7:1-29, where the same things are recorded with little variation. 1 Chronicles 17:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“17:1-27 The larger section (13:1–17:27) concludes with Nathan’s prophecy about David and David’s prayer of thanks. 17:1-15 David wanted to build a home for the Ark that would equal his own palace, but the Lord designated David’s heir, Solomon (ch 22), to build the Temple. Jerusalem was to be the single place of worship for all Israel.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“as David: Sa2 7:1, 2-17; Ch2 6:7-9; Dan 4:4, Dan 4:29, Dan 4:30 Nathan: Ch1 29:29; Sa2 12:1, Sa2 12:25; Kg1 1:8, Kg1 1:23, Kg1 1:44 I dwell: Ch1 14:1; Jer 22:15; Hag 1:4, Hag 1:9 the ark: Psa 132:5; Act 7:46 under curtains: Ch1 17:5, Ch1 15:1, Ch1 16:1; Exo 40:19-21; Sa2 6:17; Ch2 1:4 1 Chronicles 17:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“In the Chronicle, as in 2 Samuel 7, the account of the removal of the ark to the city of David is immediately followed by the narrative of David's design to build a temple to the Lord; and this arrangement is adopted on account of the connection between the subjects, though the events must have been separated by a period of several years. Our account of this design of David's, with its results for him and for his kingdom, is in all essential points identical with the parallel account, so that we may refer to the commentary on 2 Sam 7 for any necessary explanation of the matter. The difference between the two…”
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