2 Samuel 7:18-29 – How To Egg God On Through Prayer

Translation & Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ The Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 20 Mar 2021

Introduction

vs. 18-29 The first thing I want to note that is exemplary in David’s prayer is how personally he addresses God throughout the whole prayer.

vs.18-19 A second example that David brings us in his prayer is his humility before God.

vs. 20-22 A third way that David’s prayer provides an example for us is in the way he reviews God’s Attributes

vs.23-24 The 4th thing I see in David’s prayer is the example of Reviewing God’s Salvation – the wonderful things He has done in the past as well as the wonderful plan He has revealed for the future:

    1. to redeem to be a people for Himself

    2. to make a name for Himself

    3. and to do great and fearsome/terrible/awesome stuff. The words for “great” and “awesome/fearsome” show up elsewhere in the Bible

v.25-29 The 5th Exemplary thing David does in his prayer is to “Egg God On”

Conclusion

There is so much to be learned from studying the prayers in the Bible, but these are five good examples for now:

  1. Express your personal relationship with God in words like “my master Yahweh,”

  2. Approach God with humility (“Who am I?”), recognizing that God’s grace is undeserved, being satisfied with it (“What more can I say?”), and giving God your glory.

  3. Review God’s Attributes

  1. Review God’s Salvation –past as well as future. “He goes to redeem a people, to do really awesome things, and to make a name for himself.”

  2. And “Egg God On” - Study God’s word to see what He says He will do, then pray, “Do what You said you would do!” “Let Your name be glorified in us as it is in heaven! I know that’s what You want, so I’m going to be one of your biggest fans!”


2 Samuel 7:18-29Side-by side comparison of versionsA

LXX

Brenton

DRB

KJV

NAW

MT

MT/1Ch

NAWB

18 καὶ εἰσῆλθεν ὁ βασιλεὺς Δαυιδ καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ εἶπεν Τίς εἰμι ἐγώ, κύριέ μου κύριε, καὶ τίς ὁ οἶκός μου, ὅτι ἠγάπηκάς με ἕως τούτων;

18 And king David came in, and sat before the Lord, and said, Who am I, O Lord, my Lord, and what is my house, that thou hast loved me hitherto?

18 And David X went in, and sat before the Lord, and said: Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far?

18 Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

18 Then David the King went and sat down before the presence of Yahweh and said, “Who am I, my Lord Yahweh? And what is my house that You should bring me to this point?

18 וַיָּבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיֵּשֶׁבC לִפְנֵי יְהוָהD וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אָנֹכִי אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה וּמִי בֵיתִי כִּי הֲבִיאֹתַנִי עַד-הֲלֹם:

17:16 וַיָּבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִיד וַיֵּשֶׁב לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וַיֹּאמֶר מִי-אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים וּמִי בֵיתִי כִּי הֲבִיאֹתַנִי עַד-הֲלֹם:

17:16 Then David the King went and sat down before the presence of Yahweh and said, “Who am I, Yahweh God? And what is my house that You should bring me to this point?

19 καὶ κατεσμικρύνθη X μικρὸν ἐνώπιόν σου, κύριέ μου κύριε, καὶ ἐλάλησας XE ὑπὲρ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ δούλου σου εἰς μακράν· οὗτος δὲ [] νόμος τοῦ ἀνθρώπου, κύριέ μου κύριε.

19 Whereas I was very little before X thee, O Lord, my Lord, yet thou spokest X concerning the house of thy servant for a long [time to to come]. And is this [the] law of man, O Lord, my Lord?

19 But yet this hath [seemed] little in thy sightx, O Lord God, unless thou didst also speak of the house of thy servant for a long [time to come]: for this is [the] law of Adam, O Lord God:

19 And this was yet a small [thing] in thy sightx, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while [to come]. And is this [the] manner of man, O Lord GOD?

19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, my Lord Yahweh. Furthermore, You have spoken also concerning the dynasty of Your servant being for some distance out, and this has become instruction for mankind, my Lord Yahweh!

19 וַתִּקְטַן עוֹדF זֹאת בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה וַתְּדַבֵּר גַּם אֶל-בֵּית-עַבְדְּךָ לְמֵרָחוֹק וְזֹאת תּוֹרַת הָאָדָםG אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה:

17:17 וַתִּקְטַן X זֹאת בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֱלֹהִים X וַתְּדַבֵּר X עַל-בֵּית-עַבְדְּךָ לְמֵרָחוֹק וּרְאִיתַנִי כְּתוֹרH הָאָדָם הַמַּעֲלָה יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים:

17:17 Yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, God. Furthermore, You spoke concerning the house of Your servant for some distance out, and You saw me according to the rank of the man of high-status, Yahweh God.

20 καὶ τί προσθήσει Δαυιδ ἔτι τοῦ λαλῆσαι πρὸς σέ; καὶ [νῦν] σὺ οἶδας τὸν δοῦλόν σου, κύριέ μου κύριε.

20 And what shall David X yet say to thee? and [now] thou knowest thy servant, O Lord, my Lord.

20 And what can David X say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord God:

20 And what can David X say more unto thee? for thou, X Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

20 And what more can David add to say to You? For, as for You, You have known Your servant, my Lord Yahweh.

20 וּמַה-יּוֹסִיף דָּוִד עוֹד לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ וְאַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶת-עַבְדְּךָ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִהI:

17:18 מַה-יּוֹסִיף עוֹד דָּוִיד X אֵלֶיךָ לְכָבוֹד אֶת-עַבְדֶּךָ וְאַתָּה אֶת-עַבְדְּךָ יָדָעְתָּ X X:

17:18 What more can David add to You for the honoring of Your servant? For, as for You, You have known Your servant.

21 διὰ τὸν λόγον σου [πεποίηκας] καὶ κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν σου ἐποίησας πᾶσαν τὴν μεγαλωσύνην ταύτην γνωρίσαι τῷ δούλῳ σου

21 [AndJ thou hast wrought] for thy servant'sK sake, and according to thy heart thou hast wrought all this greatness, to make it known to thy servant,

21 For thy word's sake, and according to thy own heart thou has done all these great thing[s], so that thou wouldst make it known to thy servant.

21 For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou done all these great thing[s], to make thy servant know them.

21 On account of Your word, and according to Your heart, You did all this great stuff in order to make it known to Your servant.

21 בַּעֲבוּר דְּבָרְךָ וּכְלִבְּךָ עָשִׂיתָ אֵת כָּל-הַגְּדוּלָּה הַזֹּאת לְהוֹדִיעַ אֶת-עַבְדֶּךָ:

17:19 יְהוָה בַּעֲבוּר עַבְדְּךָ וּכְלִבְּךָ עָשִׂיתָ אֵת כָּל-הַגְּדוּלָּה הַזֹּאת לְהֹדִיעַ אֶת-כָּל-הַגְּדֻלּוֹת:

17:19 Yahweh, for the sake of Your servant and according to Your heart, You did all this great stuff in order to make known all the great things.

22 ἕνεκεν τοῦ μεγαλῦναί σε, κύριέ μου κύριε, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ὡς σὺ καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν θεὸς πλὴν σοῦ ἐν πᾶσιν, οἷς ἠκούσαμεν ἐν τοῖς ὠσὶν ἡμῶν.

22 that he may magnify thee, O XL my Lord; for there is no one like thee, and there is no God, but thou among all of whom we have heard with our ears.

22 Therefore thou art magnified, O Lord God, because there is none like to thee, neither is there any God besides thee, in all the things that we have heard with our ears.

22 Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

22 Therefore, You are great, my Lord Yahweh, for there is none like You, and there is no god besides You among all that we’ve heard about with our earsM!

22 עַל-כֵּןN גָּדַלְתָּ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִהO כִּי-אֵין כָּמוֹךָP וְאֵין אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶךָ בְּכֹלQ אֲשֶׁר- שָׁמַעְנוּ בְּאָזְנֵינוּ:

17:20 X X
X X
יְהוָה X אֵין כָּמוֹךָ וְאֵין אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר- שָׁמַעְנוּ בְּאָזְנֵינוּ:

17:20


Yahweh, there is none like You, and there is no God besides You among all that we have heard about with our ears.

23 καὶ τίς ὡς ὁ λαός σου X Ισραηλ ἔθνος ἄλλο ἐν τῇ γῇ; ὡς ὡδήγησεν αὐτὸν ὁ θεὸς τοῦ λυτρώσασθαι αὐτῷ X λαὸν

τοῦ θέσθαι
σε ὄνομα τοῦ ποιῆσαι μεγαλωσύνην X καὶ ἐπιφάνειαν τοῦ ἐκβαλεῖν Rσε ἐκ προσώπου τοῦ λαοῦ σου, οὗ ἐλυτρώσω σεαυτῷ ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, ἔθνη καὶ σκηνώματα X.

23 And what other nation in the earth is as thy people X Israel? whereas God was his guide, to redeem for himself X a people

to make
thee a name, to do mightily X and nobly, so that thou shouldest cast out nations and their tabernaclesS from the presence of thy people, whom thouT didst redeem for thyself out of Egypt?

23 And what X nation is there upon earth, as thy people X Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself,

and to make him a name, and to do for them great and terrible things, upon the earth, before the face of thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thyself out of Egypt, [from] the nations and their gods.

23 And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself,

and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods?

23 And what single nation on earth is like Your people {} Israel, to whom God went to redeem to be a people for Himself,
and to make a name for Himself and to do {} great and fearsome stuff by expelling nations and {nomads} in front of Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself out of Egypt?

23 וּמִי כְעַמְּךָ Uכְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָדV בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּW- אֱלֹהִים לִפְדּוֹת- לוֹ לְעָם
וְלָשׂוּם לוֹX שֵׁם וְלַעֲשׂוֹת לָכֶםY הַגְּדוּלָּה וְנֹרָאוֹת לְאַרְצֶךָ מִפְּנֵי עַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ לְּךָ מִמִּצְרַיִם גּוֹיִםZ וֵאלֹהָיוAA
:

17:21 וּמִי כְּעַמְּךָ xיִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְx הָאֱלֹהִים לִפְדּוֹת לוֹ xעָם
x
לָשׂוּם לְךָ שֵׁם X
x
X
גְּדֻלּוֹת וְנֹרָאוֹת לְגָרֵשׁxמִפְּנֵי עַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר-פָּדִיתָ X מִמִּצְרַיִם גּוֹיִם X:

17:21 And what single nation on earth is like Your people Israel, to whom God went to redeem for Himself a people,
to make a great and fearsome reputation for Yourself, to expell nations from the front of Your people whom You redeemed out of Egypt?

24 καὶ ἡτοίμασας σεαυτῷ τὸν λαόν σου Ισραηλ X X X λαὸν ἕως αἰῶνος, καὶ σύ, κύριε, ἐγένου αὐτοῖς εἰς θεόν.

24 And thou has prepared for thyself thy people Israel X X to be a people for ever, and thou, Lord, art become their God.

24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel X X to be an everlasting people: and thou, O Lord God, art become their God.

24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, LORD, art become their God.

24 Now, You have established {} Your people Israel for Yourself to be a people for ever, and it is You, Yahweh, who belong to them as God.

24 וַתְּכוֹנֵן לְךָ אֶת-עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָAB לְעָם עַד-עוֹלָם וְאַתָּה יְהוָה הָיִיתָ לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים: ס

17:22 וַתִּתֵּן X אֶת-עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְךָ לְעָם עַד-עוֹלָם וְאַתָּה יְהוָה הָיִיתָ לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים:

17:22 Now, You have given Your people Israel for Yourself to be a people for ever, and it is You, Yahweh, who belong to them as God.

25 καὶ νῦνAC, κύριέ [μου κύριε], τὸ ῥῆμα, ὃ ἐλάλη­σας περὶ τοῦ δού­λου σου καὶ X τοῦ οἴκου αὐτοῦ, πίσ­τω­σον ἕως αἰῶ­νος, [κύριε παντο­κράτωρ] θεὲ [τοῦ Ισραηλ·] καὶ νῦν καθὼς ἐλάλησας,

25 And now, O [my] Lord[, the Almighty Lord] God [of Israel,] confirm the word for ever which thou hast spoken concerning thy servant and X his house: and now as thou hast said,

25 And now, O Lord God, raise up for ever the word that thou hast spoken, concerning thy servant and concerning his house: and do as thou hast spoken,

25 And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it for ever, and do as thou hast said.

25 So now, Yahweh God, cause to establish for ever the word which You spoke over Your servant and over his house, and do exactly what You said!

25 וְעַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ עַל-עַבְדְּךָ וְעַל- בֵּיתוֹ הָקֵם עַד- עוֹלָם וַעֲשֵׂהAD כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ:

17:23 וְעַתָּה יְהוָה X הַדָּבָר
אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ עַל-עַבְדְּךָ וְעַל- בֵּיתוֹ יֵאָמֵן עַד
- עוֹלָם וַעֲשֵׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתָּ:

17:23 So now, Yahweh, confirm for ever the word which You spoke over Your servant and over his house, and do exactly what You said!

26 [και νυν] μεγαλυνθείη τὸ ὄνομά σου ἕως αἰῶνος [λεγων κθριε παντο­κρατωρ θεος επι τον Ισραελ. και ‘ο οικος του δουλου σου Δαωιδ εσται ανωρθωμενος ενωπιον σου, ‘οτι συAE].

26 [And now] Let thy name be magnified for ever [saying, “The Lord Al­mighty is God over Israel. And the house of your servant David will be set upright before Your face, for You...]

26 That thy name may [be] magnified for ever, and it may be said: The Lord of hosts is God over Israel. And the house of thy servant David shall be established before the Lord.

26 And let thy name [be] magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

26 So Your reputation will increase for-ever by saying, ‘Yahweh of Army-hosts is God over Israel!’ when the house of your servant David has been established before Your face.

26
וְיִגְדַּל שִׁמְךָ עַד-עוֹלָם לֵאמֹר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהִים עַל-יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבֵית עַבְדְּךָ דָוִד יִהְיֶה
נָכוֹן לְפָנֶיךָAF:

17:24 וְיֵאָמֵן וְיִגְדַּל שִׁמְךָ עַד-עוֹלָם לֵאמֹר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֱלֹהִים לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבֵית- דָּוִיד עַבְדְּךָ X נָכוֹן לְפָנֶיךָ:

17:24 So Your reputation will be confirmed and increase for ever by saying, “Yahweh of Army-hosts is the God of Israel. God is for Israel,” when the house of David your servant has been established before Your face.

27 κύριε παντο­κράτωρ θεὸς Ισραηλ, ἀπεκάλ­υψας τὸ ὠτίον τοῦ δούλου σου λέγων Οἶκον οἰκοδομήσω σοι· διὰ τοῦτο εὗρεν ὁ δοῦλός σου τὴν καρδίαν ἑαυτοῦ τοῦ προσεύξασθαι πρὸς σὲ τὴν προσευχὴν ταύτην.

27 Almighty Lord God of Israel, thou hast uncovered the ear of thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore thy servant has found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee.

27 Because thou, O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to the ear of thy servant, saying: I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer to thee.

27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to X thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

27 For it is You, Yahweh of Army-hosts – God of Israel – who caused it to be revealed to the ear of Your servant saying, ‘I will build a dynasty for you.’ Therefore your servant has found his cour­age to pray this prayer to You!

27 כִּי-אַתָּה יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל גָּלִיתָה אֶת-אֹזֶן עַבְדְּךָ לֵאמֹר בַּיִת אֶבְנֶה-לָּךְ עַל-כֵּן מָצָא עַבְדְּךָ אֶת- לִבּוֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל אֵלֶיךָ אֶת-הַתְּפִלָּה הַזֹּאת:

17:25 כִּי אַתָּה X X
אֱלֹהַי X
גָּלִיתָ אֶת-אֹזֶן עַבְדְּךָ X לִבְנוֹת לוֹ בָּיִת עַל-כֵּן מָצָא עַבְדְּךָ X X לְהִתְפַּלֵּל לְפָנֶיךָ X X X:

17:25 For it is You, my God who caused it to be revealed to the ear of Your servant that You would build for him a dynasty, therefore Your servant found it to pray before Your face.

28 καὶ νῦν, κύριέ μου κύριε, σὺ εἶ X ὁ θεός, καὶ οἱ λόγοι σου ἔσον­ται ἀληθινοί, καὶ ἐλάλησας ὑπὲρ τοῦ δούλου σου τἀγαθ ταῦτα·

28 And now, O Lord my Lord, thou art X God; and thy words will be true, and thou hast spoken these good thing[s] concerning thy servant.

28 And now, O Lord God, thou art X God, and thy words shall be true: for thou hast spoken to thy servant these good thing[s].

28 And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true,

and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:

28 So now, my Lord Yahweh, You are the one – the God, and your words are true, and you have spoken to your servant this good thing,

28 וְעַתָּה אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה אַתָּה-הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים וּדְבָרֶיךָ יִהְיוּ אֱמֶת וַתְּדַבֵּר אֶל-עַבְדְּךָ אֶת- הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת:

17:26 וְעַתָּה X יְהוָה אַתָּה-הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים
X X
X
וַתְּדַבֵּר עַל-עַבְדְּךָ X הַטּוֹבָה הַזֹּאת:

17:26 So now, Yahweh, you are the one – the God, and You have spoken over Your servant this good thing,

29 καὶ νῦν ἄρξαι καὶ εὐλόγησον τὸν οἶκον τοῦ δούλου σου τοῦ εἶναι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα ἐνώπιόν σου, ὅτι σὺ εἶ, κύριέ μου κύριε, ἐλάλησας, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς εὐλογίας σου εὐλογηθή­σεται ὁ οἶκος τοῦ δούλου σου εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

29 And now begin and bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord, my Lord, hast spoken, and the house of thy servant shall be blessed with thy blessing so as to continue for ever.

29 And now begin, and bless the house of thy servant, that it may endure for ever before thee: because thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

29 Therefore now let it please [thee] to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord GOD, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

29 so now, give Your consent and bless the household of Your servant so that it may forever be before Your face, for it is You, my Lord Yahweh who have spoken, and because of Your blessing, the household of Your servant will be blessed forever!”

29 וְעַתָּהAG הוֹאֵלAH וּבָרֵךְ אֶת-בֵּית עַבְדְּךָ לִהְיוֹת לְעוֹלָם לְפָנֶיךָ כִּי-אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה דִּבַּרְתָּ וּמִבִּרְכָתְךָ יְבֹרַךְ בֵּית-עַבְדְּךָ לְעוֹלָם: פ

17:27 וְעַתָּה הוֹאַלְתָּ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת-בֵּית עַבְדְּךָ לִהְיוֹת לְעוֹלָם לְפָנֶיךָ כִּי-אַתָּה X יְהוָה בֵּרַכְתָּ וּמְבֹרָךְX x
X
X
לְעוֹלָם: פ

17:27 so now, You have determined to bless the house of Your servant in order that it will exist forever before Your face, for it is You, Yahweh, who have blessed, so it is blessed forever!”


1[U]nto the world to come [was] a phrase often used by the Jews for the times of the Messiah; see Heb_2:5; and so Abarbinel thinks this clause has respect to Messiah the son of David” ~John Gill, 1766 AD

2cf. RV “this too after the manner of men.” Keil & Delitzsch also used this translation “this is the law for men,” but explained it more along the lines of a combination of the way the ESV and NIV translated it.

3cf. Geneva: “doth this apperteine to man...?” also the position of Matthew Henry, John Gill, Robert Jamieson.

4David Tsumura, author of the New International Commentary on the O.T. volume on Samuel held this position.

5McCarter had a different translation along these lines: “shown me the turn of mankind” [in the generation to come].

6Keil & Delitzsch made the case from 1 Chron. 28:4, that David considered more than just the “word” to Samuel at his anointing (1Sam. 16:12), he also saw in himself – and in the Messiah to come – the fulfillment of the scepter in Judah from Jacob's blessing (Gen. 49:10), and perhaps the rising star from Balaam's prophecy as well (Num. 24:17).

7The ancient Greek version of 2 Samuel 7 also has the word “servant” instead of “word.” Both must be true at once.

8Psalm 139:14 “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” (NKJV)

920 "You shall fear the LORD your God... 21 He is your praise, and He is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things which your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down to Egypt with seventy persons, and now the LORD your God has made you as the stars of heaven in multitude.” (NKJV)

1021 “They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, 22 Wondrous works in the land of Ham, Awesome things by the Red Sea.” (NKJV) Also describing the nation of Israel crossing the Jordan River in Joshua 4:14

111 Chron, LXX, Junius, Willet, Henry, NIV, ESV, CEV, JPS, REB, and NRSV favored “drove out”

12MT, Vulgate, Vatabulus, Martyr, Pellican, Osiander, Geneva Bible, N/KJV, N/ASB, French LS, RV, NET, Spanish LBLA, Gill, K&D, and Tsumura favored “to your land”

13“David had in mind, when speaking of the acts of divine omnipotence which had inspired fear and dread of the majesty of God, not only the miracles of God in Egypt, but also the marvellous extermination of the Canaanites, whereby Israel had been established in the possession of the promised land, and the people of God placed in a condition to found a kingdom.” ~K&D

AMy original chart includes the NASB and NIV, but their copyright restrictions have forced me to remove them from the publicly-available edition of this chart. I have included the ESV in footnotes when it employs a word not already used by the KJV, NASB, or NIV. (NAW is my translation.) When a translation adds words not in the Hebrew text, but does not indicate it has done so by the use of italics (or greyed-out text), I put the added words in [square brackets]. When one version chooses a wording which is different from all the other translations, I underline it. When a version chooses a translation which, in my opinion, either departs too far from the root meaning of the Hebrew word or departs too far from the grammar form of the original text, I use strikeout. And when a version omits a word which is in the original text, I insert an X. (I also place an X at the end of a word if the original word is plural but the English translation is singular.) I occasionally use colors to help the reader see correlations between the various editions and versions when there are more than two different translations of a given word. The only known Dead Sea Scroll containing 2 Samuel 7 is 4Q51Samuela, which contains fragments of vs. 6-7 & 22-29, and which has been dated between 50-25 B.C. Where the DSS is legible and in agreement with the MT, the MT is colored purple. Where the DSS supports the LXX (or Vulgate) with omissions or text not in the MT, I have highlighted with yellow the LXX and its translation into English, and where I have accepted that into my NAW translation, I have marked it with {pointed brackets}.

BI have marked up the parallel passage in the MT of 1 Chronicles by placing a capital X where a whole word found in the 2Sam text is not found in the 1Chr text, a lower case “x” when a letter of a word is in 2Sam but not 1Chr, grey text to indicate words in the 1Chr text not found in 2Sam, and orange text to indicate words where a synonym was substituted.

CThere is a surprising amount of commentary on the fact that David “sat” to pray. Willett and K&D interpreted it as spending a long time. Others noted that it is one of many attitudes of prayer recommended in God’s word.

D“When ministers deliver God's message to us, it is not to them, but to God, that our hearts must reply.” ~Matthew Henry

ESyriac and a couple of Hebrew manuscripts omit the “also” which is in the MT and Vulgate.

FAlthough this “still/yet” is in the Vulgate, it’s not in the Old Latin, Syriac, Septuagint, or the parallel passage in 1 Chron.

GThis is a curious phrase lit. “this instruction of the mankind,” occurring nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible. The closest it gets is in Numbers 19:14 זֹאת הַתּוֹרָה אָדָם כִּי־יָמוּת בְּאֹהֶל “This is the instruction for a man when he dies in a tent…”
Andrew Willett: “But these words are much better referred vnto Christ, ‘This is the lawe of that (excellent) man’: which word excellent is supplied... that is, thou grantest me these things, not for any merit or worthinesse in me, but for the worthinesse of that excellent man Christ… the word is haadam, of that man, the article is put too, to note some excellent and singular man... And Daud here hath manifest reference to the Messiah, because he speaketh of the continuing of his house for euer...”
Matthew Henry:Is this the manner of men? that is, First, Can man expect to be so dealt with by his Maker? Is this the law of Adam? Note, Considering what the character and condition of man are, it is very surprising and amazing that God should deal with him as he does… Secondly, Do men usually deal thus with one another? No...”
John Gill: “is this the manner of man, O Lord God? to bestow their favours on their inferiors, persons of no worth and merit, and in a profuse manner? it is not…”
Robert Jamieson: “is it customary for men to show such condescension to persons so humble as I am?”
Hengstenberg: “When God the Lord, in His treatment of poor mortals, follows the rule which He has laid down for the conduct of men one towards another, when He shows himself kind and affectionate, this must fill with adoring amazement those who know themselves and God.”
Keil & Delitzsch: “This - namely, the love and condescension manifested in Thy treatment of Thy servant - is the law which applies to man, or is conformed to the law which men are to observe towards men, i.e., to the law, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself…”
David Tsumura: “Is this the law for man…? … David expresses his amazement at the Lord’s special treatment of him...”

HThis word only occurs in two other passages, referring to “taking turns” in Esther 2:12-15, and referring to ornaments – probably earrings - in Canticles 1:10-11. Most English versions translate it here as an “estate/rank/standard” of being “of high degree.”

ISyriac, Targums, and Vulgate read “God” instead of “Yahweh,” but it’s referring to the same person. 1 Chron 17 omits, but the vocative isn’t necessary to convey the same meaning.

JThe opening conjunction is inserted the Vaticanus, but not other manuscripts of the Septuagint.

KVaticanus (and Syriac) follow the text used in 1 Chron. “for the sake of your servant,” but LXX, Vulgate, Targums, and MT read “for the sake of your word.”

LVaticanus dropped out one of the “lord’s” whereas there are two in the MT and LXX.

Mcf. Psalm 44:1-2 “O God, we've heard with our own ears; our fathers recounted for us the accomplishment You accomplished in their days – in the early days. It was You – Your hand – that disinherited nations...” (NAW)

NTsumura noted that this is a “speaker-oriented ‘al-ken… not indicat[ing] the result of the previous sentence… [but] giving a comment or explanatory note from the speaker’s perspective,; hence, ‘A therefore I say B’…” citing 1 Sam. 5:5, 19:24b, 23:28, and 2 Sam. 5:8b as other examples of the speaker-oriented על כן. But this assumes that the “therefore” cannot refer to what follows in its own verse, so it doesn’t seem necessary to make a big deal of this.

OSyriac, Targums, and Vulgate read “Lord God,” instead of “Lord Yahweh” with the LXX and MT, but it is not saying anything different. Strangely, the KJV joined the NIV in following the Vulgate and Syriac over the LXX and MT here.

Pcf. 1 Samuel 2:2, Psalm 18:31, Isaiah 45:5a, 64:4b

QSome Hebrew manuscripts as well as the Targums read ככל according to all,” which is not much different. Perhaps the KJV was using one of those manuscripts?

RThe Syriac and the parallel passage in 1 Chron. say, “you to drive out,” whereas the MT and Vulgate say, “to your land.”

SThe LXX reads as though some letters were transposed (ohelim = “tents” instead of elohim = “gods”).

TLXX and Vaticanus actually read 1st person (“I redeemed”) instead of 2nd person (“you redeemed”), but that is confusing.

ULXX, Vulgate, Targums, and Syriac, as well as several Hebrew manuscripts and the parallel passage in 1 Chron. omit the comparative, but there is no practical difference between “like my people – like Israel” and “like my people Israel.”

VVulgate omits this word, and LXX reads as though the word were אחר (“other”) instead of אחד, but Syriac, Targums, and the parallel account in 1 Chron all support “one.” The DSS is obliterated at this point; the spacing could support either spelling. The practical difference is not significant between “what other nation?” vs. “what single nation?”

WMost versions ignore the plural sureq on the end of this word, which would normally translate “they went” (including Latin, Syriac, and English, but not the Targums – which implied that it was Moses & Aaron who went to redeem Israel out of Egypt, and not Tsumura – who curiously advocated for “angels” being the ones who paid the ransom to release Israel from Egypt). Perhaps the plural form of God (elohim) can be applied to this plural verb form (although it would be unusual) in order to get “God went” (Kimchi went for this, calling it the “majestic plural.” Matthew Henry followed Osiander and Willet’s attribution to the Trinity: “[T]here was the same consultation and concurrence of all the persons in the blessed Trinity about the work of redemption that there was about the work of creation, when God said, Let us make man.” John Gill noted that all three persons of the Trinity are mentioned in the Exodus: “the Lord... the Angel of his presence... and his holy Spirit” K&D, on the other hand, said it referred to any and all within the pantheon of gods: “Is there any nation to which the deities worshipped by it went, as the true God went to Israel to redeem it for His own people?” The latter seems a bit of a stretch to me though.). Alternately, the LXX interpreted the sureq as a 3ms prepositional ending “caused him to go,” which also has the difficulty of the unusualness of not having a hiphil spelling to denote causality, without with “he went him” doesn’t make much sense. The parallel passage in 1 Chron. doesn’t have this ending on the verb, but reads “God went,” so I’m inclined to interpret it that way. The spacing in this obliterated section of the DSS doesn’t give a conclusive verdict.

XLXX & 1 Chron. read 2ms (“for you”) rather than 3ms (“for himself”), Targums seem to omit, Syriac לה = “for her?”

YDSS, LXX, and 1 Chron omit. Vulgate reads “them” along with several Hebrew manuscripts (<hl)).

ZTsumura suggested that the final mem on this word was not a plural but rather an adverbial enclitic which means “from,” enabling the translation “from a nation and its gods,” but this seems to be a bit of a stretch to defend the MT against the LXX and the DSS (both of which he disdains).

AAThe oldest-known manuscripts – the DSS and LXX read “tents” instead of “gods,” the difference being the switching of two letters in the Hebrew word (ahl-, to alh-).

AB“for yourself” is missing here in LXX & Vulgate, and the previous instance of “for yourself” is missing in the parallel passage in 1 Chron. The DSS reads “for yourself” here, but there is not enough space for all the words in the MT to fit in the obliterated section of the DSS previous to this word in this verse; omitting the first “for yourself” would make the words fit in the DSS.

ACAncient Greek versions from Aquila and Symmachus add a verb poihson “do.”

AD“Some of God’s promises are conditionall, some are absolute: the promise made to Dauid concerning the Messiah, which should come of his seede was absolute, and so likewise was the continuance of his posteritie vntill the Messiah: for Gods decree herein could not be altered: but the promise of the outward prosperitie of his seede, and the possessing and holding of the kingdome was conditionall, so his sonnes walked in obedience before God: therefore Dauid prayeth that such grace might be giuen vnto his posteritie, as that they might haue a prosperous gouernment.” ~Andrew Willett

AESources indicate that, despite the truncated form of this verse in the Vaticanus and traditional “Septuagint,” the full form of this verse in Greek is in the Alexandrinus Greek Old Testament, but the British Museum which curates it has not made the text or images of it available online. The only Greek version I could find was Field’s reconstruction of Origen’s Hexapla, citing a source he abbreviated as “Comp.” reproduced in square brackets in this column and translated by myself in square brackets in the “Brenton” column. The DSS, Syriac, Targums, Latin, and parallel passage in 1 Chron. all support the longer MT form of this verse.

AFThe Syriac and Targums and some Hebrew manuscripts add “forever” at the end, but there is no evidence for that in the LXX, Vulgate, or MT. The DSS is obliterated at this point, and the spacing is a little ambivalent, although leans in favor of not including an extra word. However, since the phrase “establish[ed] forever” occurs 9 other times in scripture, the Targums and Syriac did not add anything new here.

AGDavid repeats the word “now” at the beginning of verses 28 & 29 like he’s expecting the answer to come right away!

AH The only other Hiphil instances of this verb of willing are of human subjects in Jdg. 19:6; 2 Ki. 5:23; and 6:3, and are translated “please/consent/be content.”

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