Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Samuel 7:4

"And it came to pass the same night, that the word of Jehovah came unto Nathan, saying," — 2 Samuel 7:4 (ASV)

That night. —The night following Nathan’s conversation with David, when the prophet’s mind would have been full of what he had heard, and thus prepared for the Divine communication. That communication is distinctly marked as coming from a source external to the prophet himself, by its being in direct opposition to his own view already expressed.