2 Samuel 7:12

“And when thy days be fulfilled, etc.] The days of his life, which were appointed by the Lord for him to live, and when he had filled up the common term of man’s life, as he exactly did; for he lived just seventy years, (see <100504>2 Samuel 5:4 <199010>Psalm 90:10); and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; die and be buried; for this is a phrase expressive of death, and the grave the common portion of men: I will set up thy seed after thee; sons to succeed in the kingdom, as they did for the space of five hundred years; though here it respects one particular seed or son, even Solomon, as appears by what follows: which shall proceed out of thy bowels; be begotten by him, and born unto him, and…”

“I will set up thy seed after thee, &c.--It is customary for the oldest son born after the father's succession to the throne to succeed him in his dignity as king. David had several sons by Bath-sheba born after his removal to Jerusalem (Sa2 5:14-16; compare Ch1 3:5). But by a special ordinance and promise of God, his successor was to be a son born after this time; and the departure from the established usage of the East in fixing the succession, can be accounted for on no other known ground, except the fulfilment of the divine promise.”

“The prophet, having detailed God’s past mercies to David, now passes on to direct prophecy, and that one of the most important in the O d Testament. I will set up the seed - In one sense this mannifestly refers to Solomon, David’s successor and the builder of the temple. But we have the direct authority of Peter Acts 2:30 for applying it to Christ the seed of David, and His eternal kingdom; and the title the Son of David given to the Messiah in the rabbinical writings, as well as its special application to Jesus in the New Testament, springs mainly from the acknowledged Messianic significance of this prophecy. (See also Isaiah 55:3; Acts 13:34.) return to 'Top of Page'”

“And when, &c. - When the time of thy life shall expire. This phrase implies, that his days shall be prolonged to the usual course of nature, and not cut off in the midst, by any violent or untimely death. I will set - I will set up in thy throne, thy posterity, first Solomon, and then others successively, and at last the Messiah. So the following words may be understood, part of his posterity in general, part of Solomon, and part of Christ only, according to the different nature of the several passages. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 7:13”

“7:12-13 one of your descendants . . . will build a house . . . for my name: David’s son Solomon would build the Temple; David’s personal involvement in military conflict and bloodshed disqualified him from building God’s Temple (1 Chr 22:8-9).”

“And when: Kg1 2:1, Kg1 8:20 sleep: Deu 31:16; Kg1 1:21; Dan 12:2; Act 13:36; Co1 15:51; Th1 4:14 I will set: Gen 15:4; Kg1 8:20; Ch1 17:11; Psa 89:29, Psa 132:11, Psa 132:12; Isa 9:7; Isa 11:1-3, Isa 11:10; Mat 22:42-44; Act 2:30 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 7:13”