1 Chronicles 17:10

17:10 and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.

“‘“I declare to you that the Lord will build a dynastic house ¹  for you!

1 Chronicles 17:17

17:17 And you did not stop there, O God! You have also spoken about the future of your servant’s family. ²  You have revealed to me what men long to know, ³  O Lord God.

1 Chronicles 17:23

17:23 So now, O Lord, may the promise you made about your servant and his family become a permanent reality! ⁴  Do as you promised, ⁵ 

[17:10]  ¹ tn Here the word “house” is used in a metaphorical sense, referring to a royal dynasty. The Lord’s use of the word here plays off the literal sense that David had in mind as he contemplated building a temple (“house”) for the Lord. In the translation the adjective “dynastic” is supplied to indicate that the term is used metaphorically.

[17:17]  ² tn Heb “and this was small in your eyes, O God, so you spoke concerning the house of your servant for a distance.”

[17:17]  ³ tn The translation “You have revealed to me what men long to know” is very tentative; the meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear. The text appears to read literally, “and you see me like the searching of man, that which is upward,” which is nonsensical. The translation above assumes the following: (1) The Qal verb translated “you see me” is repointed as a Hiphil, “you showed me,” (2) תּוֹר (tor) is understood in the sense of “searching, exploring,” and (3) הַמַּעֲלָה (hamma’alah) is taken in a temporal sense of “that which lies beyond.” Thus one could translate, “you have shown me what men search for, what lies beyond.”

[17:23]  ⁴ tn Heb “and now, O Lord, the word which you spoke concerning your servant and concerning his house, may it be established permanently.”

[17:23]  ⁵ tn Heb “as you have spoken.”