17-00
God’s Covenant with David
This title can also be translated as: “About when God made a covenant with David” or “What covenant did God make with David?”
17-01
Saul was the first king of Israel
This introduces Saul as a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
the first king of Israel
This could be translated as: the “first king to rule over Israel.”
He was tall and handsome, just like the people wanted
This is background information about Saul. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
one day
This could be translated as: “some time in the future” or “years later.”
be king in his place
This is an idiom that means replace him as king. Other ways to say this are: “take his place as king over Israel” or “rule as king instead of him.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-idiom/01.md]])
17-02
God chose a young Israelite named David
This introduces David as a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
David was a shepherd from the town of Bethlehem.
This is background information about David. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
father’s sheep
This refers to ownership. The sheep belonged to the father of David. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])
watching
This could mean caring for or protecting or taking care of.
17-03
a giant named Goliath
The word giant here describes a person who is unusually tall and powerful. Goliath was a huge soldier in an army that was fighting against Israel.
about three meters tall!
This is a strong statement that Goliath was extremely tall. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
After that
The connecting words After that indicate the sequence of events. The first enemy of Israel that David defeated was Goliath, but after defeating Goliath, David went on to defeat many other enemies of Israel. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
17-04
Finally
The people praised David very much so King Saul became jealous. Now the story transitions to Saul not only feeling jealous but acting on that jealousy. Finally connects the reason for Saul’s jealousy (the people loved David) with the result of Saul’s jealousy (Saul wanted to kill David). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]], [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases/01.md]])
One day
The story transitions from explaining the general story (of Saul wanting to kill David) to a specific story (about Saul trying to kill David). This event happened in the past, but does not state the specific time. Many languages have a similar way to begin telling a true story. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
In this way
The connecting words In this way connect the reason (Saul saw that David had a piece of his clothing) with the result (Saul knew David would not kill him and try to become king). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
to become king
David would not dishonor God by killing the man that God placed as king over Israel.
17-05
Some time later
The story transitions from Saul being king to David becoming king. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
made him successful
This could mean helped him accomplish the good things he wanted to do.
and God helped him defeat
The connecting word and is acting as more than a simple conjunction. It indicates that God’s blessing on David included his military efforts. David won many battles not because he was a great soldier, though he was, but because God helped him defeat Israel’s enemies. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases/01.md]])
his capital city
This could mean the capital city of his kingdom. David lived in Jerusalem and ruled from there. The entire city does not belong to David, but because David is the supreme government leader and because David captured Jerusalem and made it the capital, it is often described as his. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])
capital city
It was the center of government for the country of Israel and it had the primary status above all the other cities in Israel. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-unknown/01.md]])
17-06
to build a temple
David wanted to construct a permanent building for worshiping God that would replace the portable Tent of Meeting.
400
This could also be written in words: “four hundred.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])
17-07
But there was a prophet named Nathan
The connecting word But contrasts David’s desire to build a temple for God with God sending a prophet to David with a message. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
so you will not build
The connecting word so connects the reason (David had fought in many wars), with the result (God did not want David to be the one to build a temple). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
this Temple
This could mean this building for worship or this place of worship.
But still
The connecting words But still contrast God saying David could not build a temple with God’s promise to bless David. If God had not said this, David might have thought God was angry with him for some reason or he had done something wrong and that was why God would not allow him to do this act of worship. This contrast relationship shows that there was nothing wrong between David and God. God showed His love for David through His promise to David that the Messiah would be his descendant. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
One of your descendants will rule as king over my people forever!
This is a surprising statement because people do not live forever. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-exclamations/01.md]])
God’s Chosen One
This could be represented by a verbal phrase: “the One God chose.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])
from their sin
This could mean from the terrible consequences of their sin.
17-08
When David heard Nathan’s message
The connecting word When connects the reason (Nathan’s message), with the result (David thanked and praised God). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
Nathan’s message
This could also be translated “the message Nathan gave.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-possession/01.md]])
Of course
The connecting words Of course indicate that David did not know when God would do these things, since God did not tell him when they would happen. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-words-phrases/01.md]])
1,000
This could also be written in words: “one thousand.” (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/translate-numbers/01.md]])
17-09
However, in his later years
The connecting word However contrasts David obeying God for many years with David sinning against God in his later years. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
in his later years
This may be translated as: “when David was older” or “later on in David’s life.”
sinned greatly
This could mean sinned in a very evil way. David’s sin was especially evil.
17-10
One day, David
We have many stories of David obeying God. Now a new story of when David sinned is being introduced. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
One day
This phrase introduces an event that happened in the past, but does not state the specific time. Many languages have a similar way to begin telling a true story.
saw
Bathsheba may have been bathing at her own house, but David’s palace was very high and he was able to see over walls that were lower.
a beautiful woman…her name was Bathsheba
This introduces Bathsheba as a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
bathing
This may be translated as: “taking a bath” or “washing herself.”
but he found out
The connecting word but contrasts David not knowing the woman with his finding out who she was. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
17-11
Instead of looking away
The connecting word Instead contrasts what David should have done (look away), with what David did (sent someone to bring her to him). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
He slept with her
In order to be polite, a euphemism is used to say David had sexual intercourse with Bathsheba. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/figs-euphemism/01.md]])
17-12
Bathsheba’s husband was a man named Uriah
This introduces Bathsheba s husband, Uriah, as a new character. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-participants/01.md]])
He was one of David’s best soldiers. He was away fighting in a war at this time.
This is background information about who Uriah was. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-background/01.md]])
go be with his wife
This could mean go home to be intimate with his wife. David wanted people, especially Uriah, to believe that Bathsheba was pregnant with Uriah’s child.
So David sent Uriah
The connecting word so connects the reason (Uriah refused to sleep with his wife), with the result (David sent him into great danger). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
where the enemy was strongest
This refers to the location in the battle where the most fighting was going on.
so that he would be killed
The connecting words so that connect the reason (David wanted Uriah killed), with the result (David told the general to put Uriah where the enemy was strongest and abandon him there). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
17-13
After Uriah died
The connecting word After introduces a sequential clause. Uriah died, and then David married Bathsheba. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-time-sequential/01.md]])
what David had done
This refers to David’s adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband, Uriah.
so he sent
The connecting word so connects the reason (God was very angry with David), with the result (God sent a prophet to tell David that he had done an evil thing). (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-result/01.md]])
17-14
But David’s baby boy died
The connecting word But contrasts David’s repentance and God’s forgiveness with God’s punishment of David and Bathsheba’s baby dying. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
some members of his own family rebelled against him
This fighting was very serious. Among other things, one of his sons murdered another son and tried to take David’s place as king while David was still reigning. If possible, use a word that conveys the intensity of this conflict within the family.
But God was faithful
The connecting word But contrasts David’s sin and unfaithfulness with God’s faithfulness. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/grammar-connect-logic-contrast/01.md]])
Later
This introduces the birth of a second son who did not die. (See: [[https://git.door43.org/unfoldingWord/en_ta/src/branch/master/translate/writing-newevent/01.md]])
A Bible story from
These references may be slightly different in some Bible translations.