2 Samuel 12:21

21 And his servants said to him, What thing is this which thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child alive; but as soon as the child is dead, thou dost rise and eat bread.

2 Samuel 12:21 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 12:21

Then said his servants unto him, what thing [is] this that
thou hast done?
&c.] Or what is the reason of such conduct and behaviour? they knew what was done, but they did not know the meaning of it, which is what they inquired after:

thou didst fast and weep for the child, [while it was] alive;
prayed with fasting and weeping for it, that it might live and not die:

but when the child was dead thou didst rise and eat bread;
and appeared cheerful; this seemed strange to them, when they expected his sorrow would be increased.

2 Samuel 12:21 In-Context

19 But David saw that his servants whispered, and David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing, and entered into the house of Jehovah and worshipped; then he came to his own house and required them to set bread before him, and he ate.

21 And his servants said to him, What thing is this which thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child alive; but as soon as the child is dead, thou dost rise and eat bread.

22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I thought, Who knows? [perhaps] Jehovah will be gracious to me, that the child may live.

23 But now he is dead, why should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.