KJV ORIGINAL
But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
But God said to me, 'You will not build a house for my name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
God is telling David that he cannot build the temple because he has been a warrior who has killed people in battle.
📚 Historical Context
King David had a deep desire to build a permanent temple for God to replace the portable tabernacle that had been used since Moses' time. However, God chose David's son Solomon to build the temple instead. David had spent much of his reign fighting wars to establish and defend Israel, which involved considerable bloodshed, even though these wars were often necessary for Israel's survival.
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