“but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a man of war who has shed blood.’”
1 Chronicles 28:3 (BSB)
Context Reading
1Now David summoned all the leaders of Israel to Jerusalem: the leaders of the tribes, the leaders of the divisions in the king’s service, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officials in charge of all the property and cattle of the king and his sons, along with the court officials and mighty men — every mighty man of valor. 2Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was in my heart to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and as a footstool for our God. I had made preparations to build it, 3but God said to me, ‘You are not to build a house for My Name, because you are a man of war who has shed blood.’ 4Yet the LORD, the God of Israel, chose me out of all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah He chose my father’s household, and from my father’s sons He was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5And of all my sons — for the LORD has given me many sons — He has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.