2 samuel 7 and 8

Read 2 Samuel 7 and 8 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Sam 7:1-4a {s} David desires to build a house for the ark of YHVH
2 Sam 7:4b-5a {s} The word of YHVH came to Nathan the prophet: “Go, tell My servant David”
2 Sam 7:5b-17 {p} “Will you build Me a house? No, but I will build you a house.” (Messianic prophecy)
2 Sam 7:18-24 {s} David: “Who am I? It is You who are great O YHVH God.”
2 Sam 7:25-29 {p} David: “Let Your word be established; let Your blessing bless the house of David forever.”
2 Sam 8:1-8 {s} The nations round about which David subdued and from which he received tribute
2 Sam 8:9-18 {s} The silver + gold David dedicated to YHVH/ he became renowned + reigned justly

The strong themes:

2 Sam 7:1-17 {s+s+p} David desires to build a house for the ark of YHVH but YHVH will instead build David’s house
2 Sam 7:18-29 {s+p} David’s prayer: I am nothing, but You are great; let Your word be established

These two chapters split into 3 chiastic structures, that I could find:

2 Sam 7:4b-17 {s+p} The word + promise of YHVH that He will establish David’s house:

1a) 2 Sam 7:4b-5a {s} The word of YHVH came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell My servant David;”

1a) 2 Sam 7:5b, Would you build a house for Me to dwell in?
1b) 2 Sam 7:6a, I have not dwelt in a house since I brought the children of Israel up from Egypt;
1c) 2 Sam 7:6b, But have moved about;
central axis) 2 Sam 7:6c, In a tent and in a tabernacle;
2c) 2 Sam 7:7a, Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel;
2b) 2 Sam 7:7b, Have I ever spoken a word to those who shepherded My people Israel;
2a) 2 Sam 7:7c, Saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’

1b) 2 Sam 7:8-9, I made David ruler over My people Israel + cut off all your enemies;

1) 2 Sam 7:8, YHVH: I took David from the sheepfold to be ruler over My people Israel;
2) 2 Sam 7:9, I have been with you + cut off all your enemies + made you a great name;

central axis) 2 Sam 7:10, I will appoint a place + plant My people Israel that they move no more nor be oppressed;

2b) 2 Sam 7:11-13, I commanded judges to be over My people Israel + gave David rest from all his enemies;

1) 2 Sam 7:11a, Since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel;
2) 2 Sam 7:11b, And have caused you to rest from all your enemies;

1a) 2 Sam 7:11c-13, YHVH will build your house + He will establish your Seed, who will build a house for His name;

1a) 2 Sam 7:11c, Also YHVH tells you that He will make you a house;
central axis) 2 Sam 7:12a, When you rest with your fathers, I will establish your Seed after you;
2a) 2 Sam 7:12b-13, I will establish His kingdom + He shall build a house for My name + His throne forever;

1b) 2 Sam 7:14a, I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son;
central axis) 2 Sam 7:14b, If He commits iniquity, I will chasten Him with the rod + blows of men;
2b) 2 Sam 7:15, But My mercy shall not depart from Him, as it departed from Saul;
2a) 2 Sam 7:16, Your house + kingdom shall be established forever/ Your throne shall be established forever;

2a) 2 Sam 7:17 {p} According to these words + this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.

This is the record of the covenant which YHVH made with David, the first new covenant since the Mosaic covenant established at Mt. Sinai. It is the covenant of the promise of the Messiah who would be of the house of David, and be ruler over His people Israel. There is an obvious Messianic prophecy in this word, which applies to both Solomon (the builder of the house for YHVH’s name) and Yeshua, who is building the third temple made without hands, out of living stones, as the dwelling place for YHVH’s name and His presence. Whoo hoo! I have heard that this word cannot be applied to Yeshua, only Solomon, for Yeshua never committed iniquity. However, the iniquity of us all was laid upon Him, and He suffered the rod and blows of men, didn’t He, in His death upon the cross.

2 Sam 7:18-29 {s+p}, David’s prayer in response to the word of YHVH:

1a) 2 Sam 7:18-21, David: What is my house? It is for the sake of Your word, which You have revealed;

1) 2 Sam 7:18-19, King David: Who am I, O Lord YHVH? And what is my house, that You have done this?;
2) 2 Sam 7:20-21a, What can David say to You? For Your word’s sake You have done these great things;
3) 2 Sam 7:21b, To make Your servant know them.

1b) 2 Sam 7:22-24, Therefore You are great, O YHVH God; You are the God of Israel;

1) 2 Sam 7:22, Therefore You are great, O YHVH God, for there is none like You;
2) 2 Sam 7:23-24 {s} You are the God of Israel;

1a) 2 Sam 7:23a, And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth;
1b) 2 Sam 7:23b, Whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people;
central axis) 2 Sam 7:23c, To make for Himself a name—doing great + awesome deeds for Your land;
2b) 2 Sam 7:23d, Before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt;
2a) 2 Sam 7:24 {s} You have made Your people Israel Your own people forever + have become their God;

central axis) 2 Sam 7:25, The word concerning David + his house, to establish it forever: do as You have said;

2b) 2 Sam 7:26a-b, Let Your name be magnified for You are the God over Israel;

1) 2 Sam 7:26a, Let Your name be magnified forever (therefore You are great), saying;
2) 2 Sam 7:26b, ‘YHVH of hosts is the God over Israel’ (You are the God of Israel);

2a) 2 Sam 7:26c-29 {p} Establish David’s house + You have revealed Your word + Your words are true;

1a) 2 Sam 7:26c, Let the house of Your servant David be established before You;
1b) 2 Sam 7:27a, For You have revealed this to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house;’
central axis) 2 Sam 7:27b-28a, “Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray this prayer to You. And now, O Lord YHVH, You are God, and Your words are true;”
2b) 2 Sam 7:28b, And You have promised this goodness to Your servant;
2a) 2 Sam 7:29 {p} Bless the house of David + may it continue before You forever/ You, YHVH, have spoken it.

2 Sam 8:1-14, The record of David’s victories over his enemies:

1a) 2 Sam 8:1-6, David subdued his enemies, and YHVH preserved him:

1) 2 Sam 8:1-4, David subdued his enemies round about;
2) 2 Sam 8:5, David killed 22,000 Syrians of Damascus;
3) 2 Sam 8:6a, David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus + Syrians became David’s servants;
4) 2 Sam 8:6b, So the Lord preserved David wherever he went;

1b) 2 Sam 8:7-8 {s} David brought the gold + bronze from Hadadezer to Jerusalem;

1c) 2 Sam 8:9, When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer;

central axis) 2 Sam 8:10a, Then Toi sent Joram his son to King David, to greet him and bless him;

2c) 2 Sam 8:10b, Because he had defeated Hadadezer (for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi);

2b) 2 Sam 8:10c-11a, Joram brought silver + gold +bronze/ King David dedicated these to the Lord with that;

2a) 2 Sam 8:11b-14, All the nations which David subdued, for YHVH preserved him;

1) 2 Sam 8:11b-12, From all the nations which he had subdued;
2) 2 Sam 8:13, David made himself a name when he killed 18,000 Syrians in the Valley of Salt;
3) 2 Sam 8:14a, He put garrisons throughout all Edom + Edomites became David’s servants;
4) 2 Sam 8:14b, And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.

It is interesting that there is a loose end at the beginning of these three structures, and at the end. This caused me to look at them as a whole, single chiastic structure. I have not mapped it yet, but there are themes in the word of the Lord’s promise to David concerning his house, which repeat in the record of David’s victories over his enemies.

YHVH gave David rest or cut off his enemies from before him (2 Sam 7:1, 9, 11);
YHVH was with David + preserved him wherever he went (2 Sam 7:9);
YHVH has made David a great name, like the name of the mighty men of renown (2 Sam 7:9).

If so, the whole structure:

1a) 2 Sam 7:1-4a {s} Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and YHVH had given him rest from all his enemies all around, that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” Then Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for YHVH is with you.” But it happened that night;

1b) 2 Sam 7:4b-17 {s+p} The promise of David’s seed who will cut off His enemies, for YHVH is with Him, whose name is great;

central axis) 2 Sam 7:18-29 {s+p} David’s prayer in response (YHVH is great + His word is true + establish, bless David’s house);

2b) 2 Sam 8:1-14, The record of David’s victories over his enemies, for YHVH was with him, and made his name great (history that prophesies);

2a) 2 Sam 8:15-18 {s} So David reigned over all Israel; and David administered judgment and justice to all his people. Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Seraiah was the scribe; Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were chief ministers.

How do the A pairs, pair? As I was meditating on this, I realized that the fact that David dwelt in a house of cedar, while the ark of YHVH dwelt behind tent curtains, bothered David’s heart, because it seemed to him that David’s situation was exalted above YHVH’s situation, something that ought not be. The desire to build a house for YHVH stemmed from the heart of David which humbled himself before his God, and exalted YHVH above him. Therefore, God exalted David, established him as ruler over all Israel, as a ruler after God’s own heart, who administered judgment and justice to all his people (with the help of his ministers, who were able men of renown). Give the leaders of Your people, Father, a heart to study Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and learn the principles of wise government for themselves!