It happened, when the king Dawud lived in his house, and YAHWEH1 had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2that the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God2 dwells within curtains.”
3Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart; for YAHWEH is with you.”
4It happened the same night, that the Word of YAHWEH came to Nathan, saying, 5“Go and tell my servant Dawud, ‘Thus says YAHWEH, “Shall you build me a House for me to dwell in? 6for I have not lived in a House since the day that I brought up Bani-Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a Tent and in a Tabernacle. 7In all places in which I have walked with all Bani-Israel, did I speak a word to any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a House of cedar?'”‘
8“Now therefore tell my servant Dawud, ‘Thus says YAHWEH All-Powerful, “I took you from the sheep pen, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people, over Israel; 9and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are in the earth. 10I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, 11and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I will cause you to rest from all your enemies. Moreover YAHWEH tells you that YAHWEH will make a house for you.
12“‘”When your days are complete, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13He will build a House for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14I will be his FATHER, and he will be my SON.3 If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; 15but my loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Talut, whom I put away before you. 16Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall be established forever.”‘”
17According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to Dawud.
18Then Dawud the king went in, and sat before YAHWEH; and he said, “Who am I, Lord YAHWEH, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, Lord YAHWEH; and you have also spoken of your servant’s house for a great while to come. Is this the manner of man, Lord YAHWEH? 20What can Dawud say more to you? For you know your servant, Lord YAHWEH. 21For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great things, to make your servant know them. 22Therefore you are great, Lord YAHWEH: for there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23What one nation in the earth is like your people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem to himself for a people, and to make a Name for himself, and to do great things for yourself, and awesome things for your land, before your people, whom you redeemed for yourself out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24You established for yourself your people Israel to be a people to you forever; and you, YAHWEH, became their God.
25“Now, YAHWEH God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken. 26Let your Name be magnified forever, saying, ‘YAHWEH All-Powerful is God over Israel; and the house of your servant Dawud shall be established before you.’ 27For you, YAHWEH All-Powerful, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house:’ therefore has your servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to you.
28“Now, O Lord YAHWEH, you are God, and your words are truth, and you have promised this good thing to your servant: 29now therefore let it please you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you; for you, Lord YAHWEH, have spoken it: and with your blessing let the house of your servant be blessed forever.”
- 7:1 YAHWEH, the name God revealed to Prophet Musa in the Taurat, Exodus 3:15 – God said moreover to Musa, “You shall tell Bani-Israel this, ‘YAHWEH, the God of your fathers, the God of Ibrahim, the God of Ishaq, and the God of Yaqub, has sent me to you.’ This is my Name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered to all generations.” ↩︎
- 7:2 God, English translation of elohim. Elohim (Hebrew) is related to allah (Arabic) and alaha (Syriac), all of which translate as “God,” and refer to the one true God. ↩︎
- 7:14 Quoted in a discussion contrasting Prophet ‘ISA with angels, the Injil in Hebrews 1:5, says: For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my SON, Today have I become your FATHER?” and again, “I will be his FATHER, and he will be my SON?” ↩︎