Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on 2 Samuel 7:2
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
That the king said unto Nathan the prophet, etc.] This is the first time this prophet is made mention of, but often afterwards, yet who he was, and from whence he came, is not known; he appears to be a man of great piety and prudence, as well as endowed with a prophetic spirit, and was very familiar with David, and perhaps dwelt in his palace; being a man on all accounts fit for conversation with princes, to whom David imparted what he had been meditating upon in his heart. The Jews have a tradition f120 that he was the same with Jonathan the son of Shimea, the brother of David, (<102121>2 Samuel 21:21); which is not very likely: see now, I dwell in an house of cedar; made of the cedars of Lebanon; see what a spacious palace it is: but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains; in a tabernacle within curtains, as the Targum; not the tabernacle of Moses, for that was at Gibeon, (<132129>1 Chronicles 21:29); but that which David had made for it, which consisted of curtains that were drawn around it, (<100617>2 Samuel 6:17). It gave him a concern that he should dwell in so magnificent a palace, and the ark of God should have so mean an habitation; wherefore it was upon his mind to build a grand edifice for it, and this he suggested hereby to Nathan, and so he understood him, as appears by what follows; and the rather he was led to such a thought, being now at rest and in peace; for then it was an house was to be built for God, in which he would cause his name to dwell, as David might easily learn from (<051209>Deuteronomy 12:9-11); and who so proper to set forward such a work as a king, and he when at rest from his enemies?
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