aCf. 2 Sam. 7. When David settled in his palace, David said to the prophet Nathan, “Here I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of GOD is under tent-cloths.”
From the day that I brought out Israel to this day, I have not dwelt in a house, but have [gone] from tent to tent and from one Tabernacle [to another].
As I moved about wherever Israel went, did I ever reproach any of the judges of Israel whom I appointed to care for My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?
“Further, say thus to My servant David: Thus said GOD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel,
and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut down all your enemies before you. Moreover, I will give you renown like that of the greatest men on earth.
I will establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Iniquitous people shall not wear them down anymore as in the past,
ever since I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. “And I declare to you: GOD will build a housebhouse I.e., a dynasty; play on “house” (i.e., temple) in v. 4. for you.
When your days are done and you follow your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingship.
Yet even this, O God, has seemed too little to You; for You have spoken of Your servant’s house for the future. You regard me as a man of distinction,cYou regard me as a man of distinction Meaning of Heb. uncertain. O my ETERNAL God.
O ETERNAL One, for Your servant’s sake, and of Your own accord,dfor Your servant’s sake, and of Your own accord Meaning of Heb. uncertain. You have wrought this great thing, and made known all these great things.
And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth, whom You,eYou Heb. 3rd person. God, went and redeemed as YourfYour See previous note. people, winning renown for Yourself for great and marvelous deeds, driving out nations before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt.
Let it be fulfilled that Your name be glorified forever, in that people will say, ‘GOD of Hosts, God of Israel, is Israel’s God’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.
Now, it has pleased You to bless Your servant’s house, that it abide before You forever; for You, O ETERNAL One, have blessed and are blessed forever.”
וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר יָשַׁ֥ב דָּוִ֖יד בְּבֵית֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜יד אֶל־נָתָ֣ן הַנָּבִ֗יא הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֤י יוֹשֵׁב֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הָאֲרָזִ֔ים וַאֲר֥וֹן בְּרִית־יְהֹוָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת יְרִיעֽוֹת׃
aCf. 2 Sam. 7. When David settled in his palace, David said to the prophet Nathan, “Here I am dwelling in a house of cedar, while the Ark of the Covenant of GOD is under tent-cloths.”
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר נָתָן֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔יד כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ֖ עֲשֵׂ֑ה כִּ֥י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּֽךְ׃ {ס}
Nathan said to David, “Do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
וַיְהִ֖י בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַה֑וּא וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶל־נָתָ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃
But that same night the word of God came to Nathan:
לֵ֤ךְ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֣יד עַבְדִּ֔י כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה לֹ֥א אַתָּ֛ה תִּבְנֶה־לִּ֥י הַבַּ֖יִת לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
“Go and say to My servant David: Thus said GOD: You are not the one to build a house for Me to dwell in.
כִּ֣י לֹ֤א יָשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ בְּבַ֔יִת מִן־הַיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶעֱלֵ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וָאֶהְיֶ֛ה מֵאֹ֥הֶל אֶל־אֹ֖הֶל וּמִמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃
From the day that I brought out Israel to this day, I have not dwelt in a house, but have [gone] from tent to tent and from one Tabernacle [to another].
בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־הִתְהַלַּ֘כְתִּי֮ בְּכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ הֲדָבָ֣ר דִּבַּ֗רְתִּי אֶת־אַחַד֙ שֹׁפְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֛יתִי לִרְע֥וֹת אֶת־עַמִּ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר לָ֛מָּה לֹא־בְנִיתֶ֥ם לִ֖י בֵּ֥ית אֲרָזִֽים׃
As I moved about wherever Israel went, did I ever reproach any of the judges of Israel whom I appointed to care for My people Israel: Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?
וְ֠עַתָּ֠ה כֹּֽה־תֹאמַ֞ר לְעַבְדִּ֣י לְדָוִ֗יד {ס} כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת אֲנִ֤י לְקַחְתִּ֙יךָ֙ מִן־הַנָּוֶ֔ה מִֽן־אַחֲרֵ֖י הַצֹּ֑אן לִֽהְי֣וֹת נָגִ֔יד עַ֖ל עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
“Further, say thus to My servant David: Thus said GOD of Hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler of My people Israel,
וָאֶהְיֶ֣ה עִמְּךָ֗ בְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הָלַ֔כְתָּ וָאַכְרִ֥ית אֶת־כׇּל־אוֹיְבֶ֖יךָ מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ וְעָשִׂ֤יתִֽי לְךָ֙ שֵׁ֔ם כְּשֵׁ֥ם הַגְּדוֹלִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃
and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut down all your enemies before you. Moreover, I will give you renown like that of the greatest men on earth.
וְשַׂמְתִּ֣י מָ֠ק֠וֹם לְעַמִּ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל וּנְטַעְתִּ֙יהוּ֙ וְשָׁכַ֣ן תַּחְתָּ֔יו וְלֹ֥א יִרְגַּ֖ז ע֑וֹד וְלֹֽא־יוֹסִ֤יפוּ בְנֵֽי־עַוְלָה֙ לְבַלֹּת֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃
I will establish a home for My people Israel and will plant them firm, so that they shall dwell secure and shall tremble no more. Iniquitous people shall not wear them down anymore as in the past,
וּלְמִיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוִּ֤יתִי שֹֽׁפְטִים֙ עַל־עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהִכְנַ֖עְתִּי אֶת־כׇּל־אוֹיְבֶ֑יךָ וָאַגִּ֣ד לָ֔ךְ וּבַ֖יִת יִֽבְנֶה־לְּךָ֥ יְהֹוָֽה׃
ever since I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.
“And I declare to you: GOD will build a housebhouse I.e., a dynasty; play on “house” (i.e., temple) in v. 4. for you.
וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־מָלְא֤וּ יָמֶ֙יךָ֙ לָלֶ֣כֶת עִם־אֲבֹתֶ֔יךָ וַהֲקִימוֹתִ֤י אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ֙ אַחֲרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִהְיֶ֖ה מִבָּנֶ֑יךָ וַהֲכִינוֹתִ֖י אֶת־מַלְכוּתֽוֹ׃
When your days are done and you follow your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingship.
ה֥וּא יִבְנֶה־לִּ֖י בָּ֑יִת וְכֹנַנְתִּ֥י אֶת־כִּסְא֖וֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
He shall build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever.
אֲנִי֙ אֶֽהְיֶה־לּ֣וֹ לְאָ֔ב וְה֖וּא יִֽהְיֶה־לִּ֣י לְבֵ֑ן וְחַסְדִּי֙ לֹא־אָסִ֣יר מֵעִמּ֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר הֲסִיר֔וֹתִי מֵאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to Me, but I will never withdraw My favor from him as I withdrew it from your predecessor.
וְהַעֲמַדְתִּ֛יהוּ בְּבֵיתִ֥י וּבְמַלְכוּתִ֖י עַד־הָעוֹלָ֑ם וְכִסְא֕וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה נָכ֖וֹן עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃
I will install him in My house and in My kingship forever, and his throne shall be established forever.”
כְּכֹל֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וּכְכֹ֖ל הֶחָז֣וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה כֵּ֛ן דִּבֶּ֥ר נָתָ֖ן אֶל־דָּוִֽיד׃ {פ}
Nathan spoke to David in accordance with all these words and all this prophecy.
וַיָּבֹא֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֔יד וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר מִֽי־אֲנִ֞י יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ וּמִ֣י בֵיתִ֔י כִּ֥י הֲבִיאֹתַ֖נִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם׃
Then King David came and sat before GOD, and he said, “What am I, O my ETERNAL God, and what is my family, that You have brought me thus far?
וַתִּקְטַ֨ן זֹ֤את בְּעֵינֶ֙יךָ֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וַתְּדַבֵּ֥ר עַל־בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ֖ לְמֵרָח֑וֹק וּרְאִיתַ֗נִי כְּת֧וֹר הָאָדָ֛ם הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Yet even this, O God, has seemed too little to You; for You have spoken of Your servant’s house for the future. You regard me as a man of distinction,cYou regard me as a man of distinction Meaning of Heb. uncertain. O my ETERNAL God.
מַה־יּוֹסִ֨יף ע֥וֹד דָּוִ֛יד אֵלֶ֖יךָ לְכָב֣וֹד אֶת־עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וְאַתָּ֖ה אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֥ יָדָֽעְתָּ׃
What more can David add regarding the honoring of Your servant? You know Your servant.
יְהֹוָ֕ה בַּעֲב֤וּר עַבְדְּךָ֙ וּֽכְלִבְּךָ֔ עָשִׂ֕יתָ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַגְּדוּלָּ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את לְהֹדִ֖יעַ אֶת־כׇּל־הַגְּדֻלּֽוֹת׃
O ETERNAL One, for Your servant’s sake, and of Your own accord,dfor Your servant’s sake, and of Your own accord Meaning of Heb. uncertain. You have wrought this great thing, and made known all these great things.
יְהֹוָה֙ אֵ֣ין כָּמ֔וֹךָ וְאֵ֥ין אֱלֹהִ֖ים זוּלָתֶ֑ךָ בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ בְּאׇזְנֵֽינוּ׃
O ETERNAL One, there is none like You, and there is no other God but You, as we have always heard.
וּמִי֙ כְּעַמְּךָ֣ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל גּ֥וֹי אֶחָ֖ד בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֩ הָלַ֨ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים לִפְדּ֧וֹת ל֣וֹ עָ֗ם לָשׂ֤וּם לְךָ֙ שֵׁ֚ם גְּדֻלּ֣וֹת וְנֹרָא֔וֹת לְגָרֵ֗שׁ מִפְּנֵ֧י עַמְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁר־פָּדִ֥יתָ מִמִּצְרַ֖יִם גּוֹיִֽם׃
And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth, whom You,eYou Heb. 3rd person. God, went and redeemed as YourfYour See previous note. people, winning renown for Yourself for great and marvelous deeds, driving out nations before Your people whom You redeemed from Egypt.
וַ֠תִּתֵּ֠ן אֶת־עַמְּךָ֨ יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל ׀ לְךָ֛ לְעָ֖ם עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וְאַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הָיִ֥יתָ לָהֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִֽים׃
You have established Your people Israel as Your very own people forever; and You, O ETERNAL, have become their God.
וְעַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הַדָּבָ֗ר אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֤רְתָּ עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֙ וְעַל־בֵּית֔וֹ יֵאָמֵ֖ן עַד־עוֹלָ֑ם וַעֲשֵׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃
“And now, O ETERNAL One, let Your promise concerning Your servant and his house be fulfilled forever; and do as You have promised.
וְ֠יֵאָמֵ֠ן וְיִגְדַּ֨ל שִׁמְךָ֤ עַד־עוֹלָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְהֹוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבֵית־דָּוִ֥יד עַבְדְּךָ֖ נָכ֥וֹן לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
Let it be fulfilled that Your name be glorified forever, in that people will say, ‘GOD of Hosts, God of Israel, is Israel’s God’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You.
כִּ֣י ׀ אַתָּ֣ה אֱלֹהַ֗י גָּלִ֙יתָ֙ אֶת־אֹ֣זֶן עַבְדְּךָ֔ לִבְנ֥וֹת ל֖וֹ בָּ֑יִת עַל־כֵּן֙ מָצָ֣א עַבְדְּךָ֔ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
Because You, my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build a house for him, Your servant has ventured to pray to You.
וְעַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה אַתָּה־ה֖וּא הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַתְּדַבֵּר֙ עַֽל־עַבְדְּךָ֔ הַטּוֹבָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃
And now, O ETERNAL One, You are God and You have made this gracious promise to Your servant.
וְעַתָּ֗ה הוֹאַ֙לְתָּ֙ לְבָרֵךְ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית עַבְדְּךָ֔ לִֽהְי֥וֹת לְעוֹלָ֖ם לְפָנֶ֑יךָ כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ בֵּרַ֔כְתָּ וּמְבֹרָ֖ךְ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ {פ}
Now, it has pleased You to bless Your servant’s house, that it abide before You forever; for You, O ETERNAL One, have blessed and are blessed forever.”