Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 7:7
In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spoke I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me a house of cedar?
7. with any of the tribes of Israel ] 1Ch 17:6 reads judges for tribes, and at first sight this appears to be required by the following words, “whom I commanded,” &c., which seem more applicable to an individual ruler than to a tribe. But the reading “tribes” is supported by the versions, and may be understood of the different tribes which through the Judges and leaders chosen from them successively attained the supremacy, as Ephraim in the time of Joshua, Dan in the days of Samson, Benjamin in the reign of Saul. Compare David’s expression in 1Ch 28:4, “he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler,” and the reference to the choice of the tribe of Judah and the rejection of the tribe of Ephraim in Psa 78:67-68.
to feed ] To tend, as a shepherd tends his sheep. Cp. note on ch. 2Sa 5:11.
a house of cedar ] Cp. 2Sa 7:2. A permanent sanctuary with beams of the most costly timber. See note on ch. 2Sa 5:11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The tribes of Israel – The duplicate passage reads judges (see margin and compare 2Sa 7:11). But a comparison with such passages as Psa 78:67-68; 1Ki 8:16; and 1Ch 28:4, favors the reading tribes, and the phrase is a condensed one, the meaning of which is, that whatever tribe had in times past supplied the ruler of Israel, whether Ephraim in the days of Joshua, or Benjamin in the time of Saul, or Judah in that of David, God had never required any of these tribes to build a house in one of their cities.
An house of cedar – See 1Ki 7:2-3; 1Ki 10:17, 1Ki 10:21; Jer 22:14, Jer 22:23. Beams of cedar marked a costly building. The cedar of Lebanon is a totally different tree from what we improperly call the red or Virginian cedar, which supplies the sweet-scented cedar wood, and is really a kind of juniper. The cedar of Lebanon is a close-grained, light-colored, yellowish wood, with darker knots and veins.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 7. With any of the tribes] “Spake I a word to any of the JUDGES” is the reading in the parallel place, 1Ch 17:6, and this is probably the true reading. Indeed, there is but one letter of difference between them, and letters which might be easily mistaken for each other: shibtey, tribes, is almost the same in appearance with shophetey, judges; the beth and the pe being the same letter, the apex under the upper stroke of the pe excepted. If this were but a little effaced in a MS., it would be mistaken for the other, and then we should have tribes instead of judges. This reading seems confirmed by 2Sa 7:11.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Spake I a word? did I ever give any command about it? without which neither they did, nor thou shouldst attempt it.
With any of the tribes: in 1Ch 17:6, it is of the judges; and to them, not to the tribes, the following words agree,
whom I commanded to feed my people Israel. Either therefore the tribes are here put synecdochically for the rulers of the tribes, as the word church is sometimes used for the governors of it; or the word here rendered tribes may be rendered sceptres, as it is used Gen 49:10, and sceptres put for sceptre-bearers or rulers, as is very frequent.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel,…. [See comments on 2Sa 7:6] on the places mentioned there:
spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel; or rather the sceptres of Israel; so the word is rendered, Ge 49:10; the sceptre bearers, rulers, and governors, whose custom was to carry a sceptre in their hands, as Ben Melech observes; and so in a parallel text, 1Ch 17:6, it is, “to any of the judges of Israel”; any of those from the times of Moses and Joshua to the times of Saul and David, and this is confirmed by what follows:
whom I commanded to feed my people Israel; that is, to rule and govern them, protect and defend them, which cannot be said of the tribes, but of the rulers of them; and the Lord asks this question, whether ever he had said a word to any of those, in all that space of time, expressing anything of this kind:
saying, why build ye not me an house of cedar? they never were bid to do it, or expostulated with why they did not, or ever reproved for not doing it; therefore why should David think of doing it?
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(7) The tribes.In the parallel place, 1Ch. 17:6, the word is judges, the difference in Hebrew being only of a single similar letter. But a like use of tribes for the judges sprung from them may be found in Psa. 78:67-68; 1Ch. 28:4.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. With any of the tribes In the persons of their representatives, the elders. In Chronicles the reading is judges of Israel. Hitherto there had been no command to build such a house as David proposed. According to Josephus ( Ant., 2Sa 7:4 ; 2Sa 7:4) Moses had foretold the building of such a temple but no such prediction appears in his writings.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Sa 7:7. Spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel The Judges of Israel. [] Houbigant. Hallet in his notes, vol. 2: p. 25 makes the same remark.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Sa 7:7 In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
Ver. 7. Spake I a word. ] They waited for my warrant for such an enterprise: and wilt not thou? Hold a while, and let thy sacrifice be offered with salt, thy zeal regulated by discretion: let this hold that by the heel, as Jacob did his brother Esau.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
tribes, or “judges”, as Chron. 2Sa 17:6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
walked: Lev 26:11, Lev 26:12
any of the tribes: 1Ch 17:6, any of the judges, Instead of , shivtey, “tribes,” we should probably read, with Houbigant, Drs. Waterland and A. Clarke, and others, , shophtey, “judges;” which is the reading in the parallel passage. Indeed there is but one letter of difference between them, and letters which might be easily mistaken for each other; the apex under the upper stroke of the , pay, being the only mark to distinguish it from the , baith. Compare with 2Sa 7:11.
feed: 2Sa 5:2, Psa 78:71, Psa 78:72, Isa 40:11, Jer 3:15, Jer 23:4, Eze 34:2, Eze 34:15, Eze 34:23, Mic 5:4, Mat 2:6, *marg. Joh 21:15-17, Act 20:28, Act 21:28, 1Pe 5:1
Reciprocal: 1Ki 8:16 – Since 1Ch 11:2 – Thou shalt 2Ch 6:5 – Since the day Psa 28:9 – feed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 7:7. The tribes of Israel whom I commanded to feed my people Israel The word tribes seems here to be put for judges, appointed to govern the tribes. Indeed, the Hebrew word , shibtee, here rendered tribes, signifies also sceptres, and, consequently, supreme governors or rulers; such as the judges were, who had the supreme authority in Israel. Saying, Why build ye not me a house of cedar? God was the most proper judge what house was agreeable to him, and he never signified that he disliked his present, and desired a more stately habitation. Though God was pleased to give Moses directions for erecting the tabernacle, and afterward appointed Solomon to build him a more magnificent temple; yet this was done only with respect to, and as suitable to men, and not in regard of, or as any way suitable to himself. And the Scripture has taken great care to inculcate on us, that the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, Act 7:4. Neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things, Act 17:24. And this is perhaps peculiar to the pure religion of the Scriptures; for if we attentively examine them, we shall find in all other religions something in the principle of them, as if the worship of God was founded on his needing something. And among most of them we find a meanness of thought, as if temples were something to the Deity himself; and not, as the Scriptures rightly describe them to be, as witnesses only to men, that God concerns himself with the inhabitants of the earth, and will hearken to their prayers. Thus we find St. Stephen, in the Acts of the Apostles, (Act 7:4,) calling the tabernacle, which Moses was ordered to make, The tabernacle of witness. And the Spirit of God put such a prayer into the heart and mouth of Solomon, at the dedication of the temple, as may sufficiently instruct us in what light the Holy Scriptures consider temples of any kind, namely, as concerning and having respect to men only, and as being nothing to God himself. But will God indeed (says Solomon) dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven, and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have builded? And the Scriptures everywhere represent God as the maker of the world and all things therein, as the supreme Lord of heaven and earth, as having the whole heavens for his throne, and the earth for his footstool; and therefore needing or requiring no worship from men, but as it is conducive to their welfare and happiness.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7:7 In all [the places] wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a {c} word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
(c) Concerning building a house: meaning without God’s express word, nothing should be attempted.