Samuel Thru Solomon Lesson 18-2 Samuel 7:1-29 (including 1 Chronicles 16:1-17:19a) In the last lesson we saw that after David had secured Jerusalem from two attacks of the Philistines, and had fortified the city, he decided to bring the Ark up to Jerusalem from Kireath Jearim, where it had been kept for 90 years, since before the judgeship of Samuel and the kingship of Saul. We saw the first attempt end in disaster, and saw how little the Israelites seemed to know what the Mosaic Law said about the care and use of the Ark. Finally, we saw the second attempt succeed in bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, but not to the Tabernacle and Holy of Holies where it belonged. We also noted the final interaction between David and Michal, which was not to David's credit. I believe that the correct understanding of next section is critical to understanding the whole Word of God. First, we see from Chronicles the clear establishment of the Ark in Jerusalem with a separate body of priests there. This was not authorized according to the liturgy of worship the LORD had ordained at the Tabernacle in the Law of Moses. The Ark would remain in this condition until the 11 th year of Solomon's reign [a] about 43 years later. Altogether, the Ark was separated from the Holy of Holies for about 133 years. 1 / 20
1 Chronicles 16:1-3 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each Israelite man and woman. In this way, they celebrated the foundation of the new Tent in Jerusalem. Since the Ark was in it, it was in reality the central focus of worship even though it was incomplete. That was where the presence of God was to meet with the children of Israel. [b] Evidently, David built a second Altar of Burnt Offerings and placed it in the front of the Tent. According to Leviticus 1, all burnt offerings had to be sacrificed on the Altar of Burnt Offerings in front of the Tabernacle. 1 Chronicles 16:4-6 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel: Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jeiel. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. David appointed a separate establishment of Levites to minister before the Ark in Jerusalem. Asaph, mentioned here, was a young man who David had put in charge of the music for the Ark. Asaph was the one who the LORD inspired to write the twelve Psalms of Asaph. His father was Berekiah (1 Chronicles 6:39), and his brother was the Zechariah mentioned here, who 2 / 20
years later, in the reign of Solomon was killed in the Temple for standing up for the word of the LORD. He was honored as a martyr by Jesus Christ himself. [c] 1 Chronicles 16:7 That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD: In the Book of Psalms, the next part is identical with Psalms 105:1-15. 1 Chronicles 16:8-22 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, O descendants of Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones. He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, [d] the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit." When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. He allowed no man to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." 3 / 20
This calls on Israel to remember the early history of Israel in Genesis, which recorded the covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It recalls how God rebuked the Pharaoh of Egypt for Abraham's sake (Genesis 12:17-20), the King of Gerar for Isaac's sake (Genesis 26:10), and Laban for Jacob's sake (Genesis 31:24). Since this is speaking of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their families we can see that Israel as a nation is seen as anointed prophets of God. As Paul later said: Romans 3:2b "First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." In the Book of Psalms, this next part is nearly identical with Psalms 96. 1 Chronicles 16:23-36 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength, ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness. Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise." Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the LORD." 4 / 20
This calls, not on just Israel, but on "all the earth" and "among the nations" and "among all peoples." They are to proclaim his salvation "day after day." This is one of the many places in scripture where the Holy Spirit proclaims that salvation is not for the Jews alone, but for the whole earth. The Psalm describes the greatness of the LORD, and assures us that the security of all of creation is in the LORD's hands and "cannot be moved." It points to the final redemption of creation at the LORD's return which Paul wrote about: Romans 8:19-21 "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God." 1 Chronicles 16:37-38 David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister there regularly, according to each day's requirements. He also left Obed-Edom and his sixty-eight associates to minister with them. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were gatekeepers. The account returns to the personnel assignments. There were at least 70 full time Levites at the Tent of Meeting. 1 Chronicles 16:39-40 David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon to present burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering regularly, morning and evening, in accordance with everything written in the Law of the LORD, which he had given Israel. 5 / 20
A little deduction allows us to understand what happened here. You may remember that after Saul slaughtered the High Priest Ahimelech and all the priests and their families at Nob, one survivor, Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, had fled to David with the High Priest's ephod, and the Urim and Thummim (1 Samuel 22:18-23). He was the rightful High Priest, by inheritance from his father. He was from the line of Aaron's fourth son, Ithamar. Evidently, Saul then appointed another High Priest to serve at the Tabernacle at Gibeon. He appointed Zadok, from the line of Eleazar, Aaron's third son. When Saul's kingdom and David's kingdom combined, that left two High Priests. David kept them both. This is testified to later in Samuel. 2 Samuel 8:17 "Zadok son of Ahitub [e] and Abiathar son of Ahimelech [f] were priests." 2 Samuel 15:29 "So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there." So Zadok stayed at the Tabernacle in Gibeon, where he had served for about ten years. Abiathar served in Jerusalem before the Ark where David was. He had served David faithfully for ten years. I have to say, that it occurs to me, that David's decision to have two priests and two places of worship smells suspiciously like a politically driven compromise. 1 Chronicles 16:41-42 With them were Heman and Jeduthun and the rest of those chosen and designated by name to give thanks to the LORD, "for his love endures forever." Heman and Jeduthun were responsible for the sounding of the trumpets 6 / 20
and cymbals and for the playing of the other instruments for sacred song. The sons of Jeduthun were stationed at the gate. Then all the people left, each for his own home, and David returned home to bless his family. The Heman described here was also the writer of Psalms 88. He was "a descendant of Korah." Korah was the Levite who rebelled against Moses in Numbers 16, and was killed with almost all of his family. However, a remnant was left of Korah's line, which did not follow their fathers sin (Numbers 26:11). It was from this line that Heman, who was also the grandson of the prophet Samuel came (1 Chronicles 6:33-38). After David's placing of the Ark in Jerusalem, we see the account of David's decision to abandon the Tabernacle of animal skins God had ordained in the Law of Moses, and replace it with a Temple of stone and cedar, in which the liturgy would be conducted. At least, there, the Ark would be reunited with the rest of the Tabernacle furniture in a ceremony of worship which more closely approximated the one the LORD had ordained for the Temple. This is a very important section. The account is repeated almost verbatim in 1 Chronicles, but there are some important differences. I will underline the differences. 2 Samuel 7:1-2 After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, [g] he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent." Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you." 7 / 20
1 Chronicles 17:1 After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent." Nathan replied to David, "Whatever you have in mind, do it, for God is with you." First of all, while we can appreciate David's sentiment, his understanding was obviously incomplete. God's glory did not rest in the sumptuousness of the Tent, but in the awesomeness of what the Tabernacle stood for. It might have been clearer to David if he had seen fit to put the Ark back where it belonged. He expressed an opinion, and Nathan who later had the courage to reproach him about Bathsheba gave him b ad advice. As the LORD's message that night to Nathan showed, just because God had blessed David did not mean that everything he had in mind was good. His experience the first time he tried to bring up the Ark showed that. This is testimony that even "prophets of God" can to speak out of turn. 2 Samuel 7:4-5 That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying: "Go and tell my servant David, This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 1 Chronicles 17:3 That night the word of God came to Nathan, saying: "Go and tell my servant David, This is what the LORD says: You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in. 8 / 20
The LORD told Nathan to correct his advice of "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it." Instead he said to tell him "You are not the one to build me a house to dwell in." The word translated "house" in this verse and verses 6, 7, and 13 is the Hebrew word tyib&' {bah' yith}. In these verses it is used to denote a building. 2 Samuel 7:6-7 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers [h] whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"' 1 Chronicles 17:5 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt to this day. I have moved from one tent site to another, from one dwelling place to another. Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their leaders whom I commanded to shepherd my people, "Why have you not built me a house of 9 / 20
cedar?"' In effect the LORD is saying to David "Read your Scripture! I didn't tell you to build a Temple in person, and I never have hinted that the tabernacle needed to be replaced." 2 Samuel 7:8-9 "Now then, tell my servant David, This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, [i] like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 1 Chronicles 17:7 "Now then, tell my servant David, This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture and from following the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name like the names of the greatest men of the earth. The LORD had promised since the time of Jacob that the Messiah would come through the line of Judah. Genesis 49:8-10 "Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you. You are a lion's cub, O Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a 10 / 20
lioness--who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs [j] and the obedience of the nations is his." God did not reveal this promise to David at this time because David deserved it, but because God wanted David to know who would build His Temple. 2 Samuel 7:10-11a 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 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. 1 Chronicles 17:9-10a 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 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also subdue all your enemies. What is the "planting" of the LORD? The planting is the vine! The same Hebrew word appears in Psalms (of Asaph) 80:8-9, 14-15 "You brought a vine out of Egypt; you 11 / 20
drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land." ---- "Return to us, O God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see! Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself." Jesus said of himself in John 15:1, 5: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." --- "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 2 Samuel 7:11b " The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 1 Chronicles 17:10b " I declare to you that the LORD will build a house for you: The word translated "house" in this verse and verse 19 is the Hebrew word tyib&' {bah' yith}. In these verses it is used to denote a family or dynasty. In this case a Royal dynasty. The dynasty was started by the seed (singular) Jesus Christ. We see then that David's dynasty, like Abraham's seed are all those who have believed in Christ. That is why Ephesians 2:19 calls 12 / 20
us members of God's household. Note the contrast. David wanted to build a house for the Lord. He couldn't, but the Lord could build a house for David and He would. That house would be David's house genealogically because Jesus descended from David. It would also be the Lord's house in the sense of a Temple because its foundation stone would be Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:20), because all who believe in Jesus Christ will be pillars and walls in the house of God (Revelation 3:12, Ephesians 2:19, 1 Peter 2:4-5, 1 Timothy 3:15). 2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed your seed after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 1 Chronicles 17:11 When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, [k] I will raise up your offspring to succeed your seed after you, one of your own sons descendants, [l] and I will establish his kingdom. I have substituted the literal translation for "your offspring to succeed." The Hebrew word here is [r"z < {zeh' rah} which means "seed" and is the same word in the singular that Paul takes 13 / 20
such pains in Galatians to explain refers to Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:16 "The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say and to seeds,' meaning many people, but and to your seed,' meaning one person, who is Christ." The verse says this one would be raised up "When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers." Although David tried to make Solomon this "seed" who would build the Temple, by raising him to the Kingship before his days were over (1 Kings 1:32-34), that act in itself made it clear that Solomon was not the one spoken of here. Of course, David did not understand the kind of Temple the LORD was talking about. Jesus did. 2 Samuel 7:13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 1 Chronicles 17:12 He is the one who will build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. The word translated "house" in this verse is also the Hebrew word tyib&' {bah' yith}, but in a sense, both in the meaning of a Temple and a dynasty. It will be a "house" not for David, but for the LORD. This hints that the King will be the "son of God." According to Zechariah 6:12-13 "the Branch" who was 14 / 20
named "Joshua" (the Hebrew for "Jesus") was the one who would build the Temple of the Lord and would reign as High Priest and King. He was a type of Christ. Zechariah 6:12-13 "Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: Here is the man whose name is the Branch, [m] and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD. It is he who will build the temple of the LORD, [n] and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.'" This Zechariah passage was written over 500 years after the death of Solomon, so clearly, according to the Bible, Solomon was not the one who would build the Temple the LORD was speaking about to David, although David refused to accept that. 2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod [o] of men, with floggings inflicted [p] by men. 15 / 20
1 Chronicles 17:13a I will be his father, and he will be my son. Hebrews quotes this passage, making it clear the LORD was speaking of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 1:5 "For to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father'? Or again, I will be his Father, and he will be my Son'"? The unique section in 2 Samuel is "When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men." Where it speaks of Jesus doing "wrong," we find the Hebrew word is hw:[; {ä vä'} which means "twisted" or "bent" and by extension came to mean "wrongdoing." See the Messianic Psalm 38:6 where it is translated "bowed down" and is also connected with the "searing pain" of flogging. We find this concept many times in Messianic Psalms where Christ is associated with sin. But it must always be remembered that this was not His sin, but ours. He took our sin upon himself so that He could suffer the punishment for it. When it says He was punished with floggings inflicted by men, we must remember who out of the Royal line of David was flogged. Many Kings in the line of David were terribly wicked, however the Bible never records that any King from the line of David was flogged. Jesus of the line of David was innocent of any wrong. He was the only descendant of David in the Bible that was flogged (Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, John 19:1). 2 Samuel 7:15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 / 20
1 Chronicles 17:13b I will never take my love away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. Both versions say the same thing in a different way. By implication, this was a promise to the humanity of Christ that after he had suffered for our sins, the Father would take Him to himself again. 2 Samuel 7:16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'" 1 Chronicles 17:14 I will set him over my house and my kingdom forever; his throne will be established forever.'" These are slightly different and focus on the two aspects of the covenant. The 2 Samuel version "your house and your kingdom" focuses on David's dynasty and kingdom. The 1 Chronicles version "my house and my kingdom" focuses on the LORD's house and kingdom. According to scripture, only a priest from the line of Aaron could rule of the LORD's house. Only a King from the line of Judah could rule over the kingdom. Only Jesus will 17 / 20
combine the two offices. 2 Samuel 7:17-20 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation. Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD? "What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign LORD. 1 Chronicles 17:15-19a Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation. Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: "Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God. "What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, O LORD. David knew himself well enough to know that he had done nothing to deserve this. In 2 Samuel it is recorded that he asked the question "Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?" It is for each of us who have seen the grace of God in our own lives to answer "Yes!" And like David, we who have believed on Him are part of His family and will reign with Him forever! [a] 1 Kings 6:37-38 18 / 20
[b] Exodus 25:22, 30:6 [c] Matthew 23:35 "And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar." [d] This is an interesting phrase. If it is literal, it refers to more than the human race (perhaps angelic creation). A generation is usually 20 to 25 years, and a thousand generations would be 25 thousand years. Since the history of mankind before the end of procreation is but 7000 years, it opens up other possibilities. Of course the term may just means "a lot." [e] This was a different Ahitub than the Ahitub that was the ancestor of Abiathar (1 Samuel 22:11). That Ahitub was descended from Ithamar. This Ahitub was descended from Eleazar (1 Chronicles 6:8). [f] The phrase in the Hebrew text is "Ahimelech son of Abiathar." This phrase is confusing. Abiathar described as the son of Ahimelech in 1 Samuel 22:20 and 1 Samuel 30:7. In the rest of the accounts of David's reign, it is Zadok and Abiathar who are described as serving as priests. Evidently Zadok served as High Priest at the Tabernacle at Gibeon, and Abiathar served as High Priest at the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. However, Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar is described in 1 Chronicles 24:3-6 as participating in the division of the priestly duties between the descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar. Otherwise, that Ahimelech never shows up again. The son of Abiathar who does show up regularly is Jonathan, son of Abiathar. One explanation is that although Abiathar did have a son (as well as a father) named Ahimelech, here in this passage, the order of the names was inadvertently reversed by a copyist and it was Abiathar that was originally intended (see PAYNE, D. F., I & II Samuel' in The New Bible Commentary (London, 1970). [g] In other words, David's victory over the Philistines. This rest was temporary. [h] Speaking of Moses, Joshua or the Judges that followed. 19 / 20
[i] His name is great because Jesus, the Messiah and King, will be called "the Son of David." [j] "Until he comes to whom it belongs" is literally "until Shiloh comes." Shiloh means the "peaceful one," like the "man of peace,"(1 Chronicles 22:9) or "Prince of Peace."(Isaiah 9:6) Also, Shiloh was where the Tabernacle was set up for most of the period of the Judges. Of course the Tabernacle is a picture of the Work of Christ. [k] This is clearly not Solomon, who was appointed King before David was even dead. [l] Sons or descendants are the same in the Hebrew. [m] Zechariah 3:8, Isaiah 4:2, 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15. [n] It should be clear that this is speaking about the prophetical Joshua (Jesus) who would build the true temple with His own body. This Joshua, who was the ancestor of Jesus Christ, never did, and never will rule on his Throne. He was the "type" of the King-Priest which Jesus became. [o] The Hebrew word )": {shay'-bet} rendered "rod" here, is translated "tribes" or "scepters" 150 of the 190 times it appears in the OT. No doubt because the rod was the symbol of the tribe it came to mean the same thing. [p] The Hebrew word 3#1 {neh'-gah} rendered "floggings inflicted" here, and "stripes" in the KJV is translated "plagues" or "sores" 71 of the 78 times it appears in the OT 20 / 20