p² Q 1,2. David before himself. ("Who I am").
R 3. Reply of Nathan.
R 4-17. Reply of Yehovah.
Q 18-29. David before Yehovah. ("Who am I").
950 to 948 B.C.
7)
1: And it came to pass (this chapter takes its place with Gen.15. It is the unconditional Covenant with David, to give him the Throne; as that was with Abraham, to give him the Land), when the king sat in his house (thus now dignified), and the Lord (Yehovah) had given him rest round about from all his enemies; (David is on easy street)
2: That the king said to Nathan the prophet (= given. The first occ. of His name. Cp. 1 Chron.29:29. An important figure in David's reign, and assocated with his son Solomon [vv.12,13; 12:25. 1 Kings 1:10-45]), “See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.” (Fig., put for the tent formed by them)
3: And Nathan said to the king (not from Yehovah, as in v.5, but for himself: and said what was wrong. David is about to make another mistake), “Go, do all that is in your heart; for the Lord (Yehovah) is with you.” (This is seldom safe advise. Don't mess with God. There is a reason and purpose for everything. It teaches a lesson. Do it God's way. Man changes. God will never change)
R q 4. Word of Yehovah to Nathan for David. r 5. "Shall you build" (Negative). David. s 6,7. Yehovah's condescension. s 8-12. Yehovah's grace. r 13-16. "He shall build" (Positive). Solomon. q 17. Word of Yehovah for Nathan to David.
4: And it came to pass that night (after these words all the MSS. have a hiatus, marking a solemn pause, and pointing back to the corresponding night of Gen.15:12-17, thus conncting the two great unconditional Covenants. See v.1), that the word of God Elohim came to Nathan, saying,
5: “Go and tell My servant David (note the use of this word throught the chapter. See v.18), ‘Thus says the Lord (Yehovah), ‘Shall you build Me a house for Me to dwell in? (David was being a little presumptuous. This could be quite a project. See 1 Chron.17:4)
6: Whereas I have not dwelt in any house since the time that I brought up the sons of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have been walking habitually in a tent as My habitation.
7: In all the places wherein I have walked with all the sons of Israel spoke I a word with any of the tribes (or "rulers", as in 1 Chron.17:6) of Israel, whom I commanded to feed My People Israel, saying, ‘Why build you all not Me a house of cedar?’ ’ ’ (In effect He's saying to David, "Have you ever heard Me ask that David?")
8: Now therefore so shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Sabaioth), ‘I took you from the sheepcote (cp. 1 Sam.16:11,12. Ps.78:71), from following the sheep, to be ruler over My People, over Israel:
9: And I was with you to whichever place you went, and have cut off all your enemies out of your sight, and have made you a great name, like unto the name of the great men that are in the earth.
10: 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 (2nd Advent. Future prophecy even from this day we live in. This hasn't happened yet); neither shall the sons of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime,
11: And as since the time that I commanded rulers to be over My People Israel, and have caused you to rest from all you enemies. Also the Lord (Yehovah) tells you that the Lord (Yehovah) will make you a house (Fig., put for household or family: i.e line of succession, also the Body of Christ).
12: And when your days be fulfilled, and you shall sleep with your fathers (Euphamism for "die"), I will set up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. (A Kingdom for ever, both spiritually and natural)
13: He shall build an house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
14: I will be to him for a Father, and he shall be to Me for a son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the sons of mankind: (He's talking about Solomon first, then the Church)
15: But My lovingkindness shall not depart away from him, according as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before you.
16: And your house and your kingdom shall be established for ever before you (some codices read "Me"): your throne shall be established for ever.’ ’ ”
17: According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak to David. (David won't need much prompting)
Q S 18-22. David. Thanksgiving for himself. T 23,24. For Israel. S 25-29. David. Prayer for his house.
S t 18. Self-abasement. "Who am I?" u 19. Acknowledgment of benefits. v 20. Inability to praise aright. u 21. Acknowledgment of benefits. t 22. Divine exhaltation. "You are great".
18: Then went king David in (it is grace that really humbles), and sat before Yehovah (very different from sitting before one's self, as in v.1. See Structure "Q" right before 7:1), and he said, “Who am I, O the LORD (Yehovah Adonai)? ((1) Adonai because David is the servant and He the master; (2) because this title has to do with lordship in the earth; Cp. vv.19 [twice], 20,28,29, six times in this chapter) and what is my house, that You have brought me hitherto?
19: And this was yet a small thing in your sight, O the LORD (Yehovah Adonai); but You have spoken also of Your servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner (= Torah or Law) of man (Heb. ha-adam = the man. "And is the law of man? i.e. the Man of Ps.8:5,6.Who is to have domiion over all the earth, embracing all the world in the scope of this blessing in connection with the Messiah. This is an exclamation of greatest surprise and wonder of this revelation concerning David's son and David's Lord. This is the base-root of the key of David), O the LORD (Yehovah Adonai)?
20: And what can David say more to You? for You, the LORD (Yehovah Adonai), know Your servant.
21: For Your word's sake, and according to Your own heart, have You done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. (Humbling statement. It is You that made your Word God and thank You for it!)
22: Wherefore I will declare and praise You as great, O the LORD (Yehovah Elohim) (note the change, because it is not now in connection with the earth, but what He is in Himself): for there is none like You, neither is there any Elohim beside You, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
23: And what one nation in the earth is like Your People, even like Your People Israel, whom God (Elohim) went to redeem for a People to Himself (See Ex.13:13 and 6:6), and to make Him a name, and to do for you great things and awesome, for Your Land, before Your people, which You redeemed to You from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?
24: For You have confirmed to Yourself Your People Israel to be a People to You for ever: and You, the Lord (Yehovah), have become their God (Elohim). (Through this all the blessings to all the people in the world)
S w 25,26. Prayer. Establishment. x 27. Divine revelation. Praise. x 28. Divine promise. Praise. w 29. Prayer. Continuance.
25: And now, O the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim), the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do according as You have said.
26: And let Your name be magnified for ever, saying, the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Sabaioth) is the God (Elohim) over Israel: and let the house of Your servant David be established before You. (They key of David)
27: For You, O the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Sabaioth), God (Elohim) of Israel, have revealed to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house: therefore has Your servant has become embolden in his heart (= mind) to pray this prayer to You.
28: And now, O the Lord God (Yehovah Elohim), You are that God (Elohim), and Your words be truth, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant:
29: Therefore now let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue for ever before You: for You, O Lord God (Yehovah Elohim), have spoken it: and with Yor blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed for ever.” (And it has been and will be)
J a 1-5. Conquests. b 6-. Garrisons in Syria. c -6-. Subjection of Syrians. d -6. Preservation of David. a 7-13. Conquests. b 14-. Garrisons in Syria. c -14-. Subjection of Edomites. d -14. Preservation of David.
940 B.C.
8)
1: And after this it came to pass, that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them (While David was victorious over enemies from the outside, he was defeated by enemies from within. See Chapters 11 & 12): and David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines (= bridle of the metropolis. 1 Chron.18:1 gives us the meaning, and shows that Metheg= bridle or reigns, is put by Fig., for power or government, and Ammah = mother-city: i.e. "Gath and her daughters [i.e. town]".).
2: And he smote Moab (thus fulfilling prophecy. Num.24:17), and alloted (or divided by lot. See note on "line", below: i.e. David divided into two companies those who were to be spared and those who were not) the territory with a line (line, put Fig., for dividing or alloting what was measured with it. Deut.3:4,13;32:8,9. Josh.17:6,14. Ps.19:4. Amos 7:17. Mic.2:5. 2 Cor.10:16), casting down the cities (cp. 1 Chron.18:2 ="made them his servants", or vassals) to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death (these were soldiers in arms, not inhabitants), and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.
3: David smote also Hadarezer (= mighty's help. Cp. 1 Chron.18:3,5), the son of Rehob, king of Zobah (= station. See Ps.60 [title], and cp. 1 Sam.14:47), as he went to recover his boundry at the river Euphrates (cp. 1 Chron.18:3 and Gen.15:18).
4: And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen (see note on 1 Kings 4:26), and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed (hocked, i.e. they cut the hamstrings of the horses to bring them down) all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots.
5: And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.
6: Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus:
and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts (i.e. tribute).
And Yehovah preserved David to whichever place he went.
7: And David took the shields (the Sept. reads "bracelets") of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer, and brought them to Jerusalem.
8: And from Betah, and from Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, king David took exceeding much brass.
9: When Toi (= erring. Sept. and Vulg. read "Tou" throughout. Cp. 1 Chron.18:9. He was a Hittite king) king of Hamath (= fortress. Area of Kenites = the sons of Cain. See Amos 6:14) heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
10: Then Toi sent Joram his son to king David, to salute him, and to bless him, because he had fought against Hadadezer, and smitten him: for Hadadezer had wars with Toi (Heb. = "was a man of wars with"). And Joram (= whom Yehvah has exhalted. Sept. reads "Hadoram". Cp. 1 Chron.18:10) brought with him (Heb. in his hand) vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and vessels of brass: (He was trying to buy his way in. A sign of the Kenites)
11: Which also king David did dedicate to the Lord (Yehovah), with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
12: Of Syria (Some codices read "Edom"), and of Moab, and of the sons of Ammon, and of the Philistines, and of Amalek (see Ex. 17:16), and of the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.
13: And David made himself a name when he returned from his smitings (this is David's exploit. In 1 Chron.18:3,12 it is Abishai's command, while in title of Ps.60 it is Joab's share in the campaign [1 Kings 11:16) of the Syrians in the valley of salt, being eighteen thousand men (this is the total. Joab's share was 12,000, and took 6 months longer. Cp. 1 Kings 11:15,16).
14: And he put garrisons (or political residents) in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons,
and all they of Edom became David's servants.
And Yehovah preserved David to whichever place he went. (It wasn't the army or man)
K e 15. David. King. f 16-. Chief captain. g -16. Recorder. h 17-. Priests. g -17. Scribe. f 18-. Captain. e -18. David's sons.
15: And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice to all his People. (He did it fairly)
16: And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host;
and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder (=remembrancer);
17: And Zadok (= just. Probably served at Gibeon. Cp. 1 Chron.18:16) the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar (named after his grandfather [1 Sam.21:1; 22:9,16), were the priests;
and Seraiah (= sheeted with snow, Like whitewash? [my {i.e. Jim D} question]) was the scribe (the first occ. of this title. Heb. sõphîr, a counter. Individual scribes held high positions as associates of the High Priests, and of the commander-in-chief. They were amanuenses, registrars, accountants [1 Kings 12:10]; adjutants [2 Kings 25:19]; secretaries of state [2 Sam.8:17. Isa.33:18]; a branch of the Levites [2 Chron.34:13]. When Priests, who should have been teachers of the Law [Deut.17:11; 33:10], became asorbed in ritual, the Scribes became custodians. Ezra was an ideal priest and scribe);
18: And Benaiah (= made by the Lord. Cp. 23:20) the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites (David's body-guard);
and David's sons were chief rulers. (Here ends the prosperous part of David's reign)
L M¹ 9:1-13. To Mephibosheth. (Son of Jonathan). M² 10:1-5. To Hanun. (Son of Nahash).
M¹ N¹ 1-4. Mephibosheth. Sought. N² 5-13. Mephibosheth. Found.
N¹ i 1-3-. Inquiry of David. "Who?" j -3. Ziba's answer. Person. Mephibosheth. i 4-. Inquiry of David. "Where?" j -4. Ziba's answer. Place. Lo-debar.
9)
1: And David said, “Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness (= grace, favour, or lovingkindness) for Jonathan's sake?”
2: And there was of the house of Saul a servant whose name was Ziba (= statue). And when they had called him to David, the king said uto him, “Art you Ziba?” And he said, “Your servant is he.”
3: And the king said, “Is there not yet a man of the house of Saul, that I may show the lovingkindness of God (Elohim) to him?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Jonathan has yet a son, which is lame on his feet.”
4: And the king said to him, “Where is he?”
And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, in Lo-debar (= no pasture. Where the sinner is untill found by God's free grace).
N² l 5,6. Mephibosheth comes to Jerusalem. m 7,8. David's promise made. m 9-12. David's promise fulfilld. l 13. Mephibosheth dwells in Jerusalem.
5: Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lo-debar. (This is the action of grace towards the "lost" sinner. Cp. Luke 15:4,5,8,9)
6: Now when Mephibosheth (= the destroyer of idols. Born in 965 B.C. [4:4]. Now 17, and father of a young son [v.12]), the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come to David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, “Mephibosheth.” And he answered, “Behold your servant!”
7: And David said to him, “Fear not: for I will surely show you lovingkindness for Jonathan your father's sake (so with God's grace to us; not for the sake of the lost one), and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”
8: And he bowed himself, and said, “What is you servant, that you should look upon such a dead dog (self-abasement is ever the result of grace shown) as I am?” (so the sinner is concerned what he is, rather than what he has done. Cp. Isa.6:5. Luke 5:8)
9: Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, “I have given to your master's son all that pertained to Saul and to all his house.
10: You therefore, and your sons, and your servants, shall till the land for him, and you shall bring in the fruits, that your master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth your master's son shall eat bread alway at my table” (type of The Bread of Life). Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
11: Then said Ziba to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so shall your servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.”
12: And Mephibosheth had a young son, whose name was Micha (= who is like God?). And all that dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants to Mephibosheth.
13: So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and he was lame on both his feet.
M² n¹ 1,2-. David's purpose. Formed. o¹ -2. Servant sent. n² 3. David's purpose. Suspected. o² 4. Servants insulted. n³ 5. David's purpose. Defeated.
948 to 942 B.C.
10)
1: And it came to pass after this, that the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead.
2: Then said David, “I will show lovingkindness to Hanun (= favoured) the son of Nahash, according as his father showed kindness to me.” (To show love is power. In carnal world to show love is weak)
And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the sons of Ammon.
3: And the princes of the sons of Ammon said to Hanun their lord, “Do you think that David does honour your father, that he has sent comforters to you? has not David rather sent his servants to you, to explore the land (cp. 1 Chron.19:3), and to spy it out, and to overthrow it?” (It does not compute. They think there is something fishy about it)
4: Wherefore Hanun took David's servants, and shaved off the one half of their beards, and cut off their garments in the middle, even to their buttocks, and sent them away. (This was a severe insult. Be careful around carnal men)
5: When they told it to David, he sent to meet them, because the men were greatly ashamed: and the king said, “Tarry at Jericho until your beards be grown, and then return.” (Protect yourself until the right time)
M O¹ 10:6-19. First and second wars. O² 11:1–20:22. Third war, and events.
O¹ p 6-12. Armies arrayed. q 13,14-. Fight and flight. Ammon. r -14. Return of Joab. Peace. p 15-17-. Armies arrayed. q -17,18. Fight and flight. Syrians. r 19. Submission of enemies. Peace.
6: And when the sons of Ammon saw that they stank before David (= stunk in his nostrils. He was angry about it), the sons of Ammon sent and hired the Syrians of Beth-rehob (= house of width [i.e. avenue or area]), and the Syrians of Zoba (= station), twenty thousand footmen, and of king Maacah (= oppression) a thousand men, and of Ish-tob (sons of good) twelve thousand men. (These are mercenaries)
7: And when David heard of it, he sent Joab, and all the host of the mighty men.
8: And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array at the entering in of the gate: and the Syrians of Zoba, and of Rehob, and Ish-tob, and Maacah, were by themselves in the field.
9: When Joab saw that the front of the battle was against him before and behind, he chose of all the choice men of Israel, and put them in array against the Syrians:
10: And the rest of the People he delivered into the hand of Abishai his brother, that he might put them in array against the sons of Ammon.
11: And he said, “If the Syrians be too strong for me, then you shall help me: but if the sons of Ammon be too strong for you, then I will come and help you. (This is a good strategy)
12: Be of good courage, and let us be strong and let us put forth our strength for our people, and for the cities of our God (Elohim): and the Lord (Yehovah) do that which seems to Him good.” (The main ingredient)
13: And Joab drew near, and the People that were with him, to the battle against the Syrians: and they fled before him.
14: And when the sons of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fled, then fled they also before Abishai, and entered into the city.
So Joab returned from the sons of Ammon, and came to Jerusalem.
15: And when the Syrians saw that they were smitten before Israel, they gathered themselves together. (The Syrians are a proud people)
16: And Hadarezer sent (= mighty help), and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river (i.e. the Euphrates): and they came to Helam (= strength); and Shobach (= expansion) the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.
17: And when it was told David, he gathered all Israel together, and passed over Jordan, and came to Helam.
And the Syrians set themselves in array against David, and fought with him.
18: And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David slew the men of seven hundred chariots of the Syrians (1 Chron.19:18 = 7,000, probably a scribes infirmity. Cp. 8:4 and 1 Chron.18:4), and forty thousand horsemen, and smote Shobach the captain of their host, who died there.
19: And when all the kings that were servants to Hadarezer saw that they were smitten before Israel, they made peace with Israel, and served them (They found peace in David as the world finds peace in Christ. Salvation is open to EVERYONE). So the Syrians feared to help the sons of Ammon any more.