Definition: And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying,
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this very interesting and somewhat mysterious passage from 2 Samuel 7:4. It’s a really old prophecy – meaning it was written long ago, and it speaks about a future relationship between God and a king of Israel. Here's the simple explanation: The Core Idea: This verse is saying that God is going to talk to a specific king named David. It’s essentially an announcement of a significant event in the future. Let's unpack it word by word: “And it came to pass that night…” – This just means something happened at that moment, and it's important to note it’s not happening right now . It’s a moment of anticipation. “…that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan…” - This is the key part. "The word of the Lord" refers to God speaking directly to David – essentially, communicating with him. “saying,” – This simply means that God is about to tell David something important. So, what does this mean ? For centuries, people have debated what exactly Nathan was saying. The most common interpretation is that he's promising David that he will be the king of Israel. It’s a direct declaration of David’s destiny and his position in God’s plan. Why is this important? This prophecy was a key part of the Old Testament story of David’s lineage, and it’s been interpreted as a promise that David would eventually become king. It’s a significant moment in history because it shows God's interest in one man – David – and his role in shaping the future of Israel. Important Note: It's crucial to remember that this is a prophecy , not a guaranteed event. The details are still somewhat vague, and there’s ongoing discussion about how to best interpret it. --- Resources for Further Learning (Optional): Bible Gateway: [https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/prophecies](https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/prophecies) Wikipedia - 2 Samuel 7: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Samuel_7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Samuel_7) Do you want me to explain any of these parts in more detail, perhaps focusing on a specific aspect like the symbolism behind the prophecy?