God's Vision extends to Egypt and Assyria

Note also that worship is not only in Jerusalem, and the highway across the fertile crescent with Israel as the third, at the crossroads positioned to share the faith.

Isaiah 19:19-24 (New International Version)

¹⁹ In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. ²⁰ It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. ²¹ So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. ²² The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

²³ In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. ²⁴ In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth.

David Can't Shut Up

David wants to build the temple, God says no and dishes out major dynastic blessings, David says "Thanks!" with these words:

"I am your servant and you know my thoughts so there is nothing more that I need to say." I Sam 7:20

Then he goes on for three more paragraphs!

David: the archetype both for politicians and shepherds/pastors.

Redaction and the Perspective on David/Kings

1 Sam. 7:14b God via Nathan tells David that Solomon will succeed him, and that "When he does wrong, I'll see that he is corrected."

The parallel text in 1 Chronicles 17 is simply missing. Implication is a desire not to suggest that he/Kings might misbehave??


Similarly, David's response in 1 Sam 7:19b to God's generosity points to God's character: "Is this how you usually treat people?" I 1 Chron. 17:17b points to David's character saying; "You are treating me as if I am a very important person."