2 Samuel 7:7
ESV
In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"’
NIV
Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" ’
NASB
Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’?'?’
CSB
In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’
NLT
Yet no matter where I have gone with the Israelites, I have never once complained to Israel’s tribal leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never asked them, 'Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar house?'’
KJV
In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
NKJV
Wherever I have moved about with all the children of Israel, have I ever spoken a word to anyone from the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’
What does 2 Samuel 7:7 mean?
If the king of God's people has a nice house made of the cedars of Lebanon, isn't it fair for that king to build a permanent structure for the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10). But God doesn't want David to build him a temple. Through Nathan the prophet, He explains why (2 Samuel 7:1–5).God's first point is that His presence has only ever lived in a tent among His people, never in permanent building. In all the time since Israel left slavery in Egypt, God has demonstrated His power and faithfulness to Israel without having a stationary "house." God doesn't need a building to be present with His chosen nation (2 Samuel 7:6).
God continues that argument. He has been content to travel with the people. He designed the tabernacle to be portable (Exodus 26). The ark stayed with the tabernacle through forty years of wandering in the wilderness, arrival at the Promised Land, and four centuries of judges (Judges 2:16–19). When the ark was taken by and then recovered from the Philistines, God was content for the ark to stay in Kiriath-jearim or travel with the people (1 Samuel 7:1–2; 14:18).
Finally, if God had wanted a temple, he would have asked for one. But He hasn't asked, and He's not asking, now. "Judges" probably means more than the men and woman from the book of Judges who ruled the Israelites between the time of Joshua and King Saul. It more likely means anyone God chose to lead His people, including priests, prophets, and kings.
But there's another reason: God doesn't want His temple associated with war and violence, and David has a very violent life. That is his role in God's story. David didn't sin by killing in war or in executing people as a leader and a king (Psalm 144:1), until Uriah (2 Samuel 11:14–15). God wants His temple to be associated with peace. So, He will intentionally give Solomon a peaceful reign so he can build the temple (1 Chronicles 22:6–10).
