But: this marks a turning point in the story, so the transition word is extremely important. In the previous verse Nathan agrees with David’s plan. However, the revelation that follows indicates that David is not the person to do this task.

The word of the LORD came: this expression occurs more than a hundred times in the Old Testament, including the revelation to Abram in Gen 15 and to Samuel in 1 Sam 15.10. But it is found most often in the prophets (Jonah 1.1; 3.1, for example). In some languages a literal rendering of the expression will be unnatural, and it will be better to say more directly “the LORD spoke to Nathan….”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .