There is a close relation between God’s ‘kindness’ and the Davidic covenant tradition,68 whose fountainhead is the dynastic oracle in 2 Samuel 7, wherein God promises (through Nathan) that he will not take his ‘kindness’ (ḥesed) from David’s son (7:15; cf. 22:51). Solomon said that God showed ‘great kindness’ to David (our translation) in giving him an heir to sit upon the throne (1 Kgs 3:6; 2 Chr. 1:8). Behind the special position given to the house of David stands God’s kindness. The word ‘kindness’ (ḥesed)
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