O Lord God, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!
Parallel translations
- WEB Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be established; for you have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
- KJV Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
- BSB Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to my father David be fulfilled. For You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
- NKJV Now, O Lord God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
- NASB Now, Lord God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Solomon asks God to confirm his promise to David, noting the vast multitude he must govern. He pleads God's own word back to him.
Overview
Solomon appeals to God's covenant with David and the Abrahamic promise of innumerable descendants (like the dust of the earth). By holding God to his stated promises, Solomon shows faith that God keeps his word. Such promise-based prayer reflects confidence that God is faithful, a faithfulness ultimately secured in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Gen 13:16I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can count the dust of the earth, then your offspring may also be counted.
- 2 Sam 7:12–16When your days are fulfilled, and you sleep with your fathers, I will set up your offspring after you, who will proceed out of your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
- Ps 89:35–37Once I have sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.
- Ps 132:11–12Yahweh has sworn to David in truth. He will not turn from it: “I will set the fruit of your body on your throne.
- Gen 22:17that I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your offspring greatly like the stars of the heavens, and like the sand which is on the seashore. Your offspring will possess the gate of his enemies.
- 1 Chr 17:23–27Now, Yahweh, let the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, be established forever, and do as you have spoken.
- 2 Sam 7:25–29Now, Yahweh God, the word that you have spoken concerning your servant, and concerning his house, confirm it forever, and do as you have spoken.
- 1 Chr 28:6–7He said to me, ‘Solomon, your son, shall build my house and my courts; for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
- 1 Chr 17:11–14It will happen, when your days are fulfilled that you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your offspring after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
- 1 Kgs 3:7–8Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or come in.
- Num 23:10Who can count the dust of Jacob, or count the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous! Let my last end be like his!”
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Christ at the center
Temple, priesthood, and the repeated need for a faithful king who seeks the LORD all point past every imperfect reign to the King and Temple who finally and fully dwell with God's people.
How 2 Chronicles 1:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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