The truth about why David didn't build the temple

The briefing

A rabbi challenges the common teaching that King David was morally disqualified from building the Temple because he had blood on his hands. He notes God repeatedly commanded David to fight, naming his opponents, promising victory and even supplying battle strategy. Solomon's own explanation in 1 Kings 5:3-5 attributes the delay to "the wars which were about him on every side" and the peace Solomon inherited, not to David's sinfulness.