John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. That the king said unto Nathan the prophet , etc.] This is the first time this prophet is made mention of, but often afterwards, yet who he was, and from whence he came, is not known; he appears to be a man of great piety and prudence, as well as endowed with a prophetic spirit, and was very familiar with David, and perhaps dwelt in his palace; being a man on all accounts fit for conversation with princes, to whom David imparted what he had been meditating upon in his heart. The Jews have a tradition that he was the same with Jonathan the son of Shimea, the brother of David, ( 2 Samuel 21:21); which is not very likely: see now, I dwell in an house of cedar ; made of the cedars of Lebanon; see what a spacious palace it is: but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains ; in a tabernacle within curtains, as the Targum; not the tabernacle of Moses, for that was at Gibeon, ( Chronicles 21:29); but that which David had made for it, which consisted of curtains that were drawn around it, ( 2 Samuel 6:17). It gave him a concern that he should dwell in so magnificent a palace, and the ark of God should have so mean an habitation; wherefore it was upon his mind to build a grand edifice for it, and this he suggested hereby to Nathan, and so he understood him, as appears by what follows; and the rather he was led to such a thought, being now at rest and in peace; for then it was an house was to be built for God, in which he would cause his name to dwell, as David might easily learn from ( Deuteronomy 12:9-11); and who so proper to set forward such a work as a king, and he when at rest from his enemies?
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-3 - David being at rest in his palace, considered how he might best emplo his leisure and prosperity in the service of God. He formed a design to build a temple for the ark. Nathan here did not speak as a prophet, but as a godly man, encouraging David by his private judgment. We ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 המלך4428 אל413 נתן5416 הנביא5030 ראה7200 נא4994 אנכי595 יושׁב3427 בבית1004 ארזים730 וארון727 האלהים430 ישׁב3427 בתוך8432 היריעה׃3407
