1 Chronicles 17 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
Around 1000 BC, once David was settled in Jerusalem and at peace from surrounding enemies
Location
David's cedar palace in Jerusalem, with the ark still housed in a tent nearby
Audience
Post-exilic Jews under Persian rule, many of them wondering whether God's promises to David's family had died with the last kings of Judah
Situation
David tells the prophet Nathan he wants to build a permanent house for the ark. God's answer reverses the offer: David will not build God a house, but God will build David a lasting royal house, and his son will build the temple.
Key Background
Temple building was the standard way an ancient Near Eastern king proved his god had chosen him, and royal inscriptions from Assyria and Babylon boast about it, so David's proposal was ordinary court religion. The wordplay turns on the double meaning of house, both a building and a family line, and the promise of an enduring dynasty is the single thread the Chronicler traces through the rest of Israel's story. Written for readers whose monarchy had been dead for over a century, the chapter insists the promise was unconditional and still open, which is why later Jewish hope for a messiah, an anointed king from David's line, grew from this passage.
Once David had settled into his he said to the "Look — I'm living in a built with cedar, but the of is sitting under tent curtains."
Nathan said to David, "Go ahead — do whatever is on God is with you."
But that same night, the of to Nathan:
"Go tell my David, 'This is what Yahweh says: You are not the one who will build me a to live in.
I have never lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up until today. I've gone from to from one dwelling to the next.
In all the places I've traveled with all of Israel, did I ever say one word to any of the leaders of Israel I appointed to my people — did I ever ask, "Why haven't you built me a house of
"Now then, say this to my servant David: 'This is what Yahweh, the of says: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be the over my people Israel.
I've been with you everywhere you've gone. I've down all your enemies right in front of you. And I will make your as great as the greatest names on earth.
I will establish a place for my people Israel and them there, so they can live in their own place and never be disturbed again. Violent people will not wear them down anymore, the way they did at the beginning,
ever since the days I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will bring down all your enemies. And I'm telling you: will you a
When days are done and you go to I will raise up after you — one of own sons — and I will establish his kingdom.
He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will make his stand forever.
I will be his father, and he will be my son. I will never pull my away from him the way I pulled it from the who you.
I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established for all
Nathan reported all these words and this entire to David.
Then King David went in and and he said: "Who am I, God, and what is my family, that you've brought me this far?
And even this wasn't enough for you, God. You've spoken about your servant's family far into the future and have looked on me as I were the most Yahweh God.
What more can David say to you about the honor you've shown your servant? You your servant through and through.
Yahweh, you've done all this incredible stuff — you've revealed all these great things — for your servant's sake and because that's what was in your
Yahweh, there's no one like you. There is no God besides you — not according to anything we've ever heard with our own ears.
And who is like your people Israel — the one nation on earth that God went out to as his own people? You made a name for yourself through great and deeds, driving out nations before your people, the ones you rescued from Egypt.
You made your people Israel your own forever. And you, Yahweh, became their God.
And now, Yahweh, let the promise you've made about your servant and his family forever. Do exactly what you've said.
Let it stand firm so that your name will be great forever, and people will say, "Yahweh, the Commander of angel armies, the God of Israel, is God over Israel!" And let the house of your servant David be established before you.
Because you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That's why your servant has the to pray this prayer before you.
And now, Yahweh, you are God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant.
Now you have been pleased to to servant's house, so that it will continue before you forever. Because when you Yahweh, it is shown with forever."