2 Samuel 7:4

4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,

2 Samuel 7:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 7:4

And it came to pass that night
The same night following the day in which David and Nathan had had the above conversation, that neither of them might continue long in their error and mistake, and especially lest David, in his great zeal and warm affection, should take an hasty and improper step:

that the word of the Lord came unto Nathan;
the word of prophecy, as the Targum; before he was not under a prophetic influence, but spoke in his own words, and had not the word of God; but now it came to him:

saying;
as follows.

2 Samuel 7:4 In-Context

2 the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent. ”

3 And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you. ”

4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,

5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in?

6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.