Shmuel II 7 · Pshat

7:1

וַיְהִי כִּֽי־יָשַׁב הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּבֵיתוֹ וַיהֹוָה הֵנִיחַֽ־לוֹ מִסָּבִיב מִכׇּל־אֹיְבָֽיו׃

When the king dwelled in his house and Adonoy granted him rest from all his enemies around [him].

Rashi

וה' הניח לו. אמר, הרי נתקיים (דברים יב י): והניח לכם מכל אויביכם וגו', מה כתיב אחריו, והיה המקום אשר יבחר וגו', מעתה עלינו לבנות בית הבחירה:

And Hashem granted him rest. [Dovid] said [The condition] has been fulfilled, "And He has granted you peace from all your enemies etc." (Devarim 12:10). What is written after [that verse]? "Let it be that the place that [Hashem, your Elokim] chooses etc." It is now [incumbent] upon us to build the Chosen House.

7:2

וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל־נָתָן הַנָּבִיא רְאֵה נָא אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב בְּבֵית אֲרָזִים וַֽאֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים יֹשֵׁב בְּתוֹךְ הַיְרִיעָֽה׃

The king said to the prophet Noson, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar wood and the Ark of Elokim dwells within a curtain."

7:3

וַיֹּאמֶר נָתָן אֶל־הַמֶּלֶךְ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר בִּֽלְבָבְךָ לֵךְ עֲשֵׂה כִּי יְהֹוָה עִמָּֽךְ׃

Noson said to the king, "All that is in your heart, go do because Adonoy is with you."

7:4

וַיְהִי בַּלַּיְלָה הַהוּא {ס} וַֽיְהִי דְּבַר־יְהֹוָה אֶל־נָתָן לֵאמֹֽר׃

And it was on that night, the word of Adonoy [came] to Noson saying.

Rashi

ויהי בלילה ההוא. אמר רבי חנינא בר פפא: אמר לו הקב"ה לנתן, האדם הזה שאני משלחך אצלו, מהיר הוא, שמא ישכור פועלים ונמצאתי מפסידו, מהר ואמור לו, לא אתה תבנה הבית. רבי סימון אומר: האדם הזה שאני משלחך אצלו, נדרן הוא, כענין שנאמר (תהלים קלב ב ג): אשר נשבע לה' נדר לאביר יעקב אם אבא באהל ביתי, שמא יאמר איני אוכל ואיני שותה עד שאעשה כך, ונמצאתי מפסידו (ילקוט שמעוני רמז קמג):

And it was on that night. Rebbe Chanina, the son of Popoh said the Holy One blessed be He said to Nosson, "The man I am sending you to is a quick one, he may hire workers and it will turn out that I [cause] him loss.¹Because it is premature to build the Bein Hamikdash at this time. Hurry and tell him, 'It is not you who will build the Temple'." Rebbe Simon says²That Hashem said to Noson. "The man I am sending you to is a vow maker" as it is said,³Dovid about himself. "Who has sworn to Adonoy, vowed to the Mighty One of Yakov Surely I will not enter the shelter of my house"⁴Rashi explains in Tehilim, verse 5 that Dovid meant he will not go into his house until he finds out in which location the Beis Hamikdosh is slated to be built. (Tehilim 132 2–3) "he may say, 'I will not eat, I will not drink until I do this'⁵i.e. build the Beis Hamikdash. and it will turn out that I [cause] him loss.⁶Slightly different versions of the opinions of Rebbe Chanina and Rebbe Simon can be found in Yalkut Shimoni, Shmuel II, 143.

7:5

לֵךְ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ אֶל־עַבְדִּי אֶל־דָּוִד {ס} כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה הַאַתָּה תִּבְנֶה־לִּי בַיִת לְשִׁבְתִּֽי׃

Go and say to my servant Dovid, "Thus said Adonoy, 'Is it you that will build for Me a house for My dwelling?'

7:6

כִּי לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי בְּבַיִת לְמִיּוֹם הַעֲלֹתִי אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם וְעַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וָאֶֽהְיֶה מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּאֹהֶל וּבְמִשְׁכָּֽן׃

For I have not dwelled in a house from the day I brought up the Bnei Yisroel from Egypt until this day, but have travelled within a tent and the Mishkan.'

Rashi

באהל ובמשכן. משכן שילה לא היתה בו תקרה, אלא בית של אבנים מלמטן, ויריעות מלמעלן:

Within a tent and the Mishkan. The Mishkan of Shiloh had no roof, it had walls made of stone underneath and curtains on top [as its covering].

7:7

בְּכֹל אֲשֶֽׁר־הִתְהַלַּכְתִּי בְּכׇל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲדָבָר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֶת־אַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי לִרְעוֹת אֶת־עַמִּי אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר לָמָּה לֹֽא־בְנִיתֶם לִי בֵּית אֲרָזִֽים׃

In all [the places] that I have traveled amongst the Bnei Yisroel, have I said a word to one of the rulers of Yisroel that I have commanded to lead my people Yisroel saying, 'Why haven't you built me a house of cedarwood?"

Rashi

הדבר דברתי. לשון תמיה הוא, לכך הוא נקוד ה"א חטף פת"ח, והדל"ת רפי:

Have I said a word. This language [conveys] astonishment, that's why its punctuation has the Hei with a Kometz, and the Daled is soft [with a Dogesh].

7:8

וְעַתָּה כֹּה־תֹאמַר לְעַבְדִּי לְדָוִד כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת אֲנִי לְקַחְתִּיךָ מִן־הַנָּוֶה מֵאַחַר הַצֹּאן לִֽהְיוֹת נָגִיד עַל־עַמִּי עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

And now, this is what you should say to my servant Dovid, this is what Adonoy of Hosts says, 'I have taken you from the corral, from [following] behind the sheep to be a prince over My people Yisroel."

Rashi

מן הנוה. דיר הרועים, כמו (צפניה ב ו): נות כרות רועים:

From the corral. The corral [used by] sheperds as [can be found], "the dugout dwelling of sheperds." (Zfsaphania, 2:6).

7:9

וָאֶהְיֶה עִמְּךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר הָלַכְתָּ וָאַכְרִתָה אֶת־כׇּל־אֹיְבֶיךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ וְעָשִׂתִֽי־לְךָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל כְּשֵׁם הַגְּדֹלִים אֲשֶׁר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

I will be with you wherever you go' 'I will destroy all your enemies from before you.' I will make for you a great name like the name of great people that are in the land.

Rashi

כשם הגדולים. זהו שאומרים מגן דוד:

Like the name of great people. That is what is said [about Dovid] the shield of Dovid.⁷Pesachim 117b. The “great people” referred to here are Avrohom, Yitzhok and Yakov. Just as they are mentioned in the first blessing of the Amidah, so too Dovid’s name is used in the ending of one of the Haftorah’s concluding blessings. (Rashi, ibid).

ואכריתה את כל איביך. ולכך עלה על לבך לבנות הבית, כמה שכתוב בתורה:

I will destroy all your enemies. And that is why [the thought] came to your heart to build the House as it is written in the Torah.⁸Devarim 12:10. See Rashi on verse 1.

7:10

וְשַׂמְתִּי מָקוֹם לְעַמִּי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּנְטַעְתִּיו וְשָׁכַן תַּחְתָּיו וְלֹא יִרְגַּז עוֹד וְלֹֽא־יֹסִיפוּ בְנֵֽי־עַוְלָה לְעַנּוֹתוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר בָּרִאשׁוֹנָֽה׃

I will make a place for My people Yisroel and I will root [the people in their land] and [the people] will dwell [in their land] and they will not be removed [from the land], and the wicked will no longer afflict [the people] as before.'

Rashi

ושמתי מקום. עוד אני חפץ להשקיט, שיהא שקט ושליו את עמי בימי בנך:

I will make a place. I still want to quiet [things] that my people [should have] quiet and tranquility during the days of your son['s reign].

7:11

וּלְמִן־הַיּוֹם אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי שֹֽׁפְטִים עַל־עַמִּי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַהֲנִיחֹתִי לְךָ מִכׇּל־אֹיְבֶיךָ וְהִגִּיד לְךָ יְהֹוָה כִּי־בַיִת יַעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃

And from the day that I commanded Judges over My people Yisroel.' 'I will give you respite from all your enemies.' Adonoy is telling you that He will establish a monarchy for you.

Rashi

ולמן היום אשר צויתי. מחובר על העליון, ולא יוסיפו לענותו כאשר בראשונה קודם השופטים, וכאשר עשו מימי השופטים עד כאן:

And from that day that I commanded. It is connected to what preceded it, they will no longer afflict [the people] as before, i.e., before the [days of the] Judges. And as they [also] did from the days of the Judges until now.

והניחותי לך. יותר ויותר, עד שתנוח מכל אויביך:

I will give you respite. More and more until you have respite from all your enemies.

והגיד לך ה'. היום על ידי, כי בית יעשה לך להושיב בנך על כסאך, ויתקיים לך בית המלכות, והוא יבנה הבית:

Adonoy is telling you. Today, through me [Noson], that He will establish a monarchy for you to have your son [Shlomo] sit on your throne and he will secure the monarchy for you. And it is he [Shlomo] that will build the House

7:12

כִּי ׀ יִמְלְאוּ יָמֶיךָ וְשָֽׁכַבְתָּ אֶת־אֲבֹתֶיךָ וַהֲקִימֹתִי אֶֽת־זַרְעֲךָ אַחֲרֶיךָ אֲשֶׁר יֵצֵא מִמֵּעֶיךָ וַהֲכִינֹתִי אֶת־מַמְלַכְתּֽוֹ׃

When your days are filled and you are [laid] to rest with your fathers, I will establish your offspring after you that will emerge from your bowels; and I will establish his monarchy.'

7:13

הוּא יִבְנֶה־בַּיִת לִשְׁמִי וְכֹנַנְתִּי אֶת־כִּסֵּא מַמְלַכְתּוֹ עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

He will build a Temple for My Name and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.'

7:14

אֲנִי אֶֽהְיֶה־לּוֹ לְאָב וְהוּא יִֽהְיֶה־לִּי לְבֵן אֲשֶׁר בְּהַעֲוֺתוֹ וְהֹֽכַחְתִּיו בְּשֵׁבֶט אֲנָשִׁים וּבְנִגְעֵי בְּנֵי אָדָֽם׃

I will be a Father to him and he will be a son to Me. Should he commit iniquity I will rebuke him with the rod of men and with the afflictions of people.'

Rashi

בשבט אנשים. זה הדד ורזון בן אלידע:

With the rod of men. This refers to Haddad and Rozon, the son of Elyodoh.⁹Both were enemies of Shlomo, they are mentioned in Kings I, 11:14 and 23 respectively.

ונגעי בני אדם. זה אשמדאי, שדחהו ממלכותו, והשדים בני אדם הראשון הם, שכל מאה ושלשים שנה שפירש אדם מאשתו במות הבל, היו הרוחות מתייחמות ויולדות הימנו (ילקוט שמעוני רמז קמו):

And with the afflictions of people. This refers to Ashmedoy who dethroned him.¹⁰Gittin 68b. The demons are the children of Odom Horishon¹¹See Yalkut Shimoni 146. The word אָדָם in the verse is taken as a reference to Odom Horishon. because the entire one hundred and thirty years that Odom [stayed] separated from his wife after Hevel's death,¹²Rashi in Bereishis 4:25 says that the Odom’s separation was due to the fact that he had brought death, to the world. The Yalkut Shimoni does not mention why the separation occurred. In addition the Yalkut Shimoni tells as that it was Chava who separated herself from Odom. the spirits would become heated [pregnant] and give birth from him.

7:15

וְחַסְדִּי לֹא־יָסוּר מִמֶּנּוּ כַּאֲשֶׁר הֲסִרֹתִי מֵעִם שָׁאוּל אֲשֶׁר הֲסִרֹתִי מִלְּפָנֶֽיךָ׃

My kindness will not depart from him as I removed it from Shaul Whom I have removed from before you'

7:16

וְנֶאְמַן בֵּיתְךָ וּמַֽמְלַכְתְּךָ עַד־עוֹלָם לְפָנֶיךָ כִּֽסְאֲךָ יִהְיֶה נָכוֹן עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

Your House and monarchy will be established forever before you,' Your throne will be established forever.'

7:17

כְּכֹל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וּכְכֹל הַחִזָּיוֹן הַזֶּה כֵּן דִּבֶּר נָתָן אֶל־דָּוִֽד׃ {פ}

All these things and this entire vision, Noson told it to Dovid.

7:18

וַיָּבֹא הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיֵּשֶׁב לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה וַיֹּאמֶר מִי אָנֹכִי אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה וּמִי בֵיתִי כִּי הֲבִאֹתַנִי עַד־הֲלֹֽם׃

King Dovid came and sat before the Ark of Adonoy and said, "Who am I, my Master Elokim and who is my household that You have brought me until this point.

Rashi

וישב לפני ה'. לפני הארון:

And sat before the Ark of Adonoy. Before the Ark.

עד הלם. שהמלכתני:

Until this point. That You have made me king.

7:19

וַתִּקְטַן עוֹד זֹאת בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה וַתְּדַבֵּר גַּם אֶל־בֵּֽית־עַבְדְּךָ לְמֵרָחוֹק וְזֹאת תּוֹרַת הָאָדָם אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִֽה׃

This was yet small in your eyes, my Master Elokim, that You have spoken also about the house of your servant [and generations] in the distant future. Is this announcement [fitting] for [mere] man, my Master Elokim.

Rashi

גם אל בית עבדך. להמליך את בני אחרי:

Also, about the house of your servant. To have my son reign after me.

וזאת תורת האדם. בתמיה, ראוי להתבשר כן לבשר ודם דבר אחר: עשית לי כמו שעשית לאדם הראשון, שהראית לו דורות העתידים לצאת ממנו:

Is this anouncent [fitting] for [mere] man? A wonderment. Is it fitting to announce such to [mere] flesh and blood¹³To be informed of the future. Another explanation: You have done for me as you did for Odom Horishon¹⁴According to this interpretation, the word אָדָם in the verse is a reference to אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. that you had shown him the future generations that were to come from him.

7:20

וּמַה־יּוֹסִיף דָּוִד עוֹד לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ וְאַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִֽה׃

What more can Dovid say to You? You know Your servant, my Master Elokim.

Rashi

ומה יוסיף דוד עוד לדבר אליך. מה אשאל עוד:

What more can Dovid say to You. What more can I ask for?

אתה ידעת את עבדך. נתת לי כל צרכי, כמו (משלי יב י): יודע צדיק נפש בהמתו:

You know Your servant. You have supplied me with all my needs as [it says] (Mishlei 12:10) "A righteous man knows his animal's being.¹⁵The verse refers to a righteous person but Rashi is drawing an analogy to Hashem’s knowing the needs of his servants."

7:21

בַּעֲבוּר דְּבָֽרְךָ וּֽכְלִבְּךָ עָשִׂיתָ אֵת כׇּל־הַגְּדוּלָּה הַזֹּאת לְהוֹדִיעַ אֶת־עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃

Because of Your word and due to [the will of] Your Heart, You have made [given me] all this greatness of which You have informed Your servant.

Rashi

בעבור דברך. להקים מה שאמרת לשמואל, להמליכני:

Because of Your word. To fulfill that which You told Shmuel to make me king.

וכלבך. רצונך הוא, ולא שאני כדאי:

And due to [the will of] Your Heart. It is Your will [that I become king] and not because I am worthy.

להודיע את עבדך. הבשורה שבשרתני:

Of which You have informed Your servant. The announcement of which You have informed me.¹⁶That my kingdom will be everlasting.

7:22

עַל־כֵּן גָּדַלְתָּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהִים כִּֽי־אֵין כָּמוֹךָ וְאֵין אֱלֹהִים זוּלָתֶךָ בְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר־שָׁמַעְנוּ בְּאׇזְנֵֽינוּ׃

Through this [I understand] that You are great my Master Elokim, because there is no other like You and there is no other god but You according to all that we heard with out ears.

7:23

וּמִי כְעַמְּךָ כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר הָלְכֽוּ־אֱלֹהִים לִפְדּֽוֹת־לוֹ לְעָם וְלָשׂוּם לוֹ שֵׁם וְלַעֲשׂוֹת לָכֶם הַגְּדוּלָּה וְנֹֽרָאוֹת לְאַרְצֶךָ מִפְּנֵי עַמְּךָ אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ לְּךָ מִמִּצְרַיִם גּוֹיִם וֵאלֹהָֽיו׃

Who is like Your people, like Yisroel a unique nation in the world, for whom leaders went [telling Yisroel, "Our mission is to redeem for Him, a people to put forth His Name, and to make great [things happen] for you." [You have done] awesome things for your land, from before Your people that You have redeemed from Egypt for Yourself, [You have driven out] nations and their gods.

Rashi

אשר הלכו אלהים. משה ואהרן, שנאמר (שמות ז א): נתתיך אלהים לפרעה ; וכן תרגם יונתן: דאזלו שלוחין מן קדם ה':

For whom leaders went. Moshe and Aharon as it is said, (Shemos 7:1). "I have made you a judge over Pharaoh" and so too did Yonasan translate, "messengers went from before Hashem."

לפדות לו לעם. כך אמרו השלוחים לישראל: הקב"ה שלחנו לפדות לו לעם, ולשום לו שם, ולעשות לכם הגדולה:

To redeem for Him a people. This is what the messengers said to Yisroel, The Holy One, blessed is he sent us to redeem for Him a people, to put forth His Name and to make great [things happen] for you.

ונוראות. עשית לארצך לאחר שיצאו משם, ומה הם הנוראות, 'מפני עמך', לגרש עמים ואלהיהם, ומקרא זה חסר 'לגרש', ובדברי הימים (א יז כא) פירשו: לגרש מפני עמך אשר פדית ממצרים גוים ואלהיו, ואינו חסרון, כי ממשמע שנאמר מפני עמך גוים, אנו שומעין לשון טרודין וגירושין:

Awesome things You have done for your land after [Bnei Yisroel] left there [i.e., Egypt]. And what are the awesome things? From before Your people You expelled nations and their gods. This verse is missing [the word] "לגרש", [however] in Divrei Hayomim (I 17:21) it explains, "To expel from before Your people that You redeemed from Egypt, nations and their gods." [Our verse] isn't [really] missing [this word] because from the sense conveyed as it is said, "From before Your people, nations" we understand that it means pushed and driven out.