A House for Yahweh and for David: The Chronicler’s narrative now moves to the all-important oracle of Nathan in which divine promises to David are made and in which the issue of temple building is addressed. The Chronicler took his material from 2 Samuel 7, where this oracle is also presented (see Additional Note on 17:1–2).

This section opens with a back reference to the interlude in 1 Chronicles 14, where it was indicated that David built “a palace” (literally “a house”) for himself with the assistance of “Hiram king of Tyre.” First Chronicles 17:1 also connects with the last verse of the previous chapter, where it was indicated that “David returned home to bless his family” (literally “his house”). The double reference to “house” in the previous chapters forms the background to 17:1, whe…