2 Samuel 12:6

6 He must restore the ewe lamb seven times over because he did this and because he had no compassion."

2 Samuel 12:6 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 12:6

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold
Which was according to the law in ( Exodus 22:1 ) ; but Kimchi thinks, because the word is of the dual number, it signifies double the number, and that the sentence was to restore eight lambs, because he being a rich man stole from the poor man; so Mr. Weemse F19 renders it, twice four, twice as much as was commanded in the law; for the Hebrews, he observes, double in the dual number till they come to seven:

because he did this thing;
committed this theft:

and because he had no pity;
on the poor man, but took his all. The Jews observe, that accordingly David was punished with the loss of four of his children, that which was born of Bathsheba, Ammon, Tamar, and Absalom; so most of the commentators, but Ben Gersom, instead of Tamar, has Adonijah.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 Of the Moral Law, l. 2. ch. 10. p. 252. Vid. Gusset. Ebr. Comment. p. 776.

2 Samuel 12:6 In-Context

4 "Now a traveler came to visit the rich man, but he wasn't willing to take anything from his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had arrived. Instead, he took the poor man's ewe lamb and prepared it for the visitor."
5 David got very angry at the man, and he said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the one who did this is demonic!
6 He must restore the ewe lamb seven times over because he did this and because he had no compassion."
7 "You are that man!" Nathan told David. “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I anointed you king over Israel and delivered you from Saul's power.
8 I gave your master's house to you, and gave his wives into your embrace. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah. If that was too little, I would have given even more.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. LXX; MT fourfold ( cf Exod 22:1)
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