Charles River Editors Quote

The second oracle (2 Sam. 7:8-16) takes a different tact.  Rather than appealing to the past as justification for denying David’s request, it looks to the future.  In this oracle, YHWH explains to David that he will not build a house for YHWH, rather YHWH will build a house for him.  This juxtaposition makes use of a play on words in Hebrew, where the Hebrew word for house (bayit) can convey both a temple and a dynasty.  Because David is the recipient of an everlasting dynasty, he will not be the one to build the temple for YHWH.  Many scholars consider this second oracle of Nathan to be the origin of messianic thought in Israel (Jones, 1990, 59-60).

Charles River Editors

The second oracle (2 Sam. 7:8-16) takes a different tact.  Rather than appealing to the past as justification for denying David’s request, it looks to the future.  In this oracle, YHWH explains to David that he will not build a house for YHWH, rather YHWH will build a house for him.  This juxtaposition makes use of a play on words in Hebrew, where the Hebrew word for house (bayit) can convey both a temple and a dynasty.  Because David is the recipient of an everlasting dynasty, he will not be the one to build the temple for YHWH.  Many scholars consider this second oracle of Nathan to be the origin of messianic thought in Israel (Jones, 1990, 59-60).

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