2 Samuel 7:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,

NIV: And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning

NASB: And I will establish a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will malicious people oppress them anymore as previously,

CSB: I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done

NLT: And I will provide a homeland for my people Israel, planting them in a secure place where they will never be disturbed. Evil nations won’t oppress them as they’ve done in the past,

KJV: Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,

NKJV: Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously,

The Davidic Covenant is God's unilateral promise to David. God begins by reminding David that every victory he's had was a gift from God. God took a shepherd boy and made him king. He went in front of David and protected him in a violent land filled with enemies. The Lord promises to continue by establishing David as one of the greatest men in history (2 Samuel 7:8–9).

But the Davidic Covenant isn't just about David. The Israelites, now the modern-day Jewish people, have lived in violence since the time of the judges, and that violence continues to this day. God promises David that one day the nation of Israel will be permanently established in their own land. The Israelites—and David—will finally have rest (2 Samuel 7:11).

From then until now, the Israelites have had pockets of peace. The first part of Solomon's reign was peaceful enough to give him time to build the temple (1 Chronicles 22:9–10). But most of Israel's history has been plagued by "violent men." Sometimes this was because Israel sinned and God disciplined them. Sometimes it was the result of Satan's hatred for God's chosen people. Today it can be difficult to determine why Israel and the Jews are constantly under attack. In the rare moments they have peace, however, we can always say it's because of God's grace.

In the future, in the millennial kingdom, the Jews will be peacefully settled in their land. David's descendant, Jesus, will reign in justice. In eternity, that peace will last forever.

Second Samuel 7:8–17 records God's counteroffer. David wants to build God a house: a temple for the ark of the covenant to dwell permanently. God doesn't want him to (2 Samuel 7:1–7). Instead, God will build David a "house." Not a palace, but an everlasting dynasty. It will start with Solomon and continue through David's descendants who will rule the southern kingdom of Judah. But it will be fulfilled when Jesus returns and rules from Jerusalem (Luke 1:32). The Davidic Covenant is also recorded in 1 Chronicles 17:7–15.

In 2 Samuel 7, David wants to build a temple for the ark of the covenant. He's convicted that he has a big house, so the ark doesn't belong in a tent (2 Samuel 5:11–12; 6:17). God declines David's request. Rather, God will build David a "house": a dynasty. David's son will be king—and that sone will build the temple. David's throne will be established forever. David responds with a humble prayer of gratitude and praise, asking God to do all He has promised for David and for Israel. God will, through Jesus (Revelation 22:16). First Chronicles 17 records the same events.

In 2 Samuel 7, David learns he can't out-give God. God has made him king and given him a mansion and a family (2 Samuel 5:3, 11–15). He's allowed David to bring the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1–15). Now, David wants to build the ark a proper temple. Instead, God says David's son will build the temple, and God will build David a lasting dynasty. Solomon does build the temple (1 Kings 5), and Jesus will fulfill David's dynasty (Luke 1:32).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.