2 Samuel 7:4

4 But that night the Lord said 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 Then the king said to the prophet Nathan, "Here I am living in a house built of cedar, but God's Covenant Box is kept in a tent!"

3 Nathan answered, "Do whatever you have in mind, because the Lord is with you."

4 But that night the Lord said to Nathan,

5 "Go and tell my servant David that I say to him, "You are not the one to build a temple for me to live in.

6 From the time I rescued the people of Israel from Egypt until now, I have never lived in a temple; I have traveled around living in a tent.