2 Samuel 7:1

“And it came to pass, when the king sat in his house, etc.] Which Hiram’s servants had built for him, having no occasion to go out to war: and the Lord had given him rest round about from all his enemies; both at home and abroad; though this rest and peace did not last long; for the next chapter gives an account of each of the people he was engaged in war with, (<100801>2 Samuel 8:1-18).”

“NATHAN APPROVES THE PURPOSE OF DAVID TO BUILD GOD A HOUSE. (Sa2 7:1-3) the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar--The palace which Hiram had sent men and materials to build in Jerusalem had been finished. It was magnificent for that age, though made wholly of wood: houses in warm countries not being required to possess the solidity and thickness of walls which are requisite for dwellings in regions exposed to rain and cold. Cedar was the rarest and most valuable timber. The elegance and splendor of his own royal mansion, contrasted with the mean and temporary tabernacle in which the ark of God was placed, distressed the pious mind of David.”

“There is no indication how soon after the bringing up of the ark these things occurred, but it was probably at no long interval. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Sat - That is, was settled in the house which Hiram's men had built for him, then he reflected upon the unsettled state of the ark. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 7:2”

“7:1-29 David was not satisfied merely building a tent for the Ark (6:17). He wanted to build a house for God. 7:1-2 If God had only a tent while David had a palace, it might create the impression that David was the real king rather than God. Thus, David intended to build a temple for God. 7:1 from all . . . enemies: See Deut 12:9-10; 1 Kgs 5:4; 8:56. David’s rest was temporary because shortly he was at war again (see 2 Sam 8:1-18).”

“the king: Ch1 17:1-15; Dan 4:29, Dan 4:30 the Lord: Jos 21:44, Jos 23:1; Kg1 5:4; Ch2 14:6; Psa 18:1 \*title Pro 16:7; Luk 1:74, Luk 1:75 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 7:2”

“Sa2 7:1-3 When David was dwelling in his house, i.e., the palace of cedar ( Sa2 5:11), and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies round about, he said to Nathan the prophet: "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, and the ark of God dwelleth within the curtains." היריעה in the singular is used, In Exo 26:2., to denote the inner covering, composed of a number of lengths of tapestry sewn together, which was spread over the planks of the tabernacle, and made it into a dwelling, whereas the separate pieces of tapestry are called יריעת in the plural; and hence, in the later writers, יריעות alternates sometimes with אהל ( Isa 54:2), and at other times with אהלים ( Sol 1:5; Jer 4:20; Jer…”