2 Samuel 7:4

4 But that night the Lord spoke his word 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 David said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a palace made of cedar wood, but the Ark of God is in a tent!"

3 Nathan said to the king, "Go and do what you really want to do, because the Lord is with you."

4 But that night the Lord spoke his word to Nathan,

5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the Lord says: Will you build a house for me to live in?

6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now I have not lived in a house. I have been moving around all this time with a tent as my home.