2 Samuel 12:17

17 And the elders of his house arose , and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

2 Samuel 12:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 12:17

And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise
him up from the earth
To persuade him to rise up, and sit upon a seat, and go to bed, after having taken some food; these were some of the chief officers at court, and had the management of the affairs of his household:

but he would not;
they could not persuade him to it:

neither did he eat bread with them;
that evening, as he had used to do; they being the princes of his court, who were wont to sit at table with him.

2 Samuel 12:17 In-Context

15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick .

16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted , and went in , and lay all night upon the earth.

17 And the elders of his house arose , and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died . And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead : for they said , Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself , if we tell him that the child is dead ?

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered , David perceived that the child was dead : therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead ? And they said , He is dead .