Shmuel II Chapters 7-8 | David’s Desire to Build the Temple and God's Response

David expresses his wish to build a house for God. The prophet Natan initially approves, but later he delivers God’s response, which denies David the privilege of building the Temple. This chapter represents a significant milestone in the history of the people of Israel. Due to the importance of these events, we will highlight and expand on a few ideas within Chapter 7 while keeping our discussion of Chapter 8 brief:

1.  God’s House and David’s House: David wishes to build a house for God, but God promises instead to build a house—a dynasty—for David. The verses tie these two themes together:  
- Initially, God refers to Himself as one who has wandered in tents: "I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt to this day; I have roamed in tent and tabernacle" (7:6).
- And then God recalls David’s past as a wandering shepherd: “Thus says the Lord of Hosts: I took you out of the pastures, from following the sheep” (7:8).
- Following that, God promises to establish a "house" for David —a royal dynasty: “The Lord declares that the Lord will establish a house for you... I will raise up your own seed after you – the issue of your own loins – and I will establish his kingdom” (7:11-12).
- Finally, it is David’s offspring who will "return" to build a house for God: "He will build a house in My name, and I will firmly establish his royal throne forever" (7:13).
 
This intertwining of David’s monarchy with God’s Temple highlights the inseparability of the two institutions, a theme echoed throughout the Tanakh, particularly in Melakhim and Yehezkel.

2.  Why does David not build the Temple? In this chapter, the reason seems to be the timing.  God is reluctant to the idea of constructing a permanent sanctuary at this stage, saying: “Have I ever spoken a word... saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a cedarwood palace?’” (7:7). However, Divrei HaYamim offers a different rationale. It is David’s bloody military past that disqualifies him from building the Temple: "But the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'You have shed much blood and waged mighty wars – you will not build a house in My name, for you have shed too much blood upon the earth before Me'" (Divrei HaYamim I 22:8). This reflects a broader theme in the Torah separating sanctity from bloodshed: "If you make Me an altar of stones, do not build it of hewn stone, for in wielding a sword upon it, you profane it" (Shemot 20:22).

3.  David as a Temple builder: Although he does not build the Temple, David actively prepares for its construction: "'My son Shlomo is young and inexperienced’, David said, ‘and the House to be built for the Lord must be incomparably magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands – I will now make preparations for it.' And so David made many preparations before his death" (Divrei HaYamim I 22:5). The chapters there in Divrei HaYamim describe in great detail how David gathered materials for the construction and even prepared architectural plans and designs: "Then David gave to his son Shlomo the design for the Hall, its buildings, its upper chambers, its inner rooms, and the place of the Ark and its covering" (Divrei HaYamim I 28:11).

4.  The eternity of David’s House: God promises David that his royal dynasty will endure forever, unlike the house of Sha’ul. Even if David's descendants sin, they will not be removed from the throne but will instead face chastisement: "I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me. And should he do wrong, I will berate him with the rod of mortals and with human afflictions. But My loyalties shall not move from him" (Shmuel II 7:14-15).  Though, in other parts of Tanakh where this promise is mentioned, a significant condition is added: "But only if your sons keep their path before Me as you walked before Me" (Melakhim I 8:25). Similar formulations appear in other places, such as Melakhim I 2:4, Tehillim 132:12, and Divrei HaYamim II 6:16.

What is the relationship between these different formulations of the promise of David’s everlasting dynasty? How does this promise align with the events of history? Express your thoughts on the subject.
 

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 highlights David's major military conquests. David embarks on highly successful military campaigns, dramatically expanding the borders of his kingdom. In this chapter, we see how the kingdom of Yehuda and Israel under David's leadership becomes a regional power. David takes the spoils of war and dedicates them to God, making a clear statement that the military achievements are ultimately His doing. Toward the end of the chapter, we encounter a verse describing one of the most desirable states in history: “And the Lord granted David victory wherever he went. David reigned over all of Israel, and David upheld justice and righteousness for all his people" (8:14–15).

For further insights, see Tehillim chapter 60, which reflects on these events. Also, see Dr. Baruch Kanael’s article analyzing the geographical and historical context of David’s wars.