2 Samuel 12:24-31

The Birth of Solomon

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba; he went and slept with her. She gave birth to a son and named^[a] him Solomon.^[b][c]The Lord loved him,

25 and He sent [a message] through Nathan the prophet, who named^[d] him Jedidiah,^[e] because of the Lord.

Capture of the City of Rabbah

26 Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.

27 Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, "I have fought against Rabbah and have also captured the water supply.

28 Now therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will be the one to capture the city, and it will be named after me.

29 So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; he fought against it and captured it.

30 He took the crown from the head of their king,^[f] and it was [placed] on David's head. The crown weighed 75 pounds^[g] of gold, and it had a precious stone [in it]. In addition, David took away a large quantity of plunder from the city.

31 He removed the people who were in the city and put [them to work] with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to labor at brickmaking.^[h] He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then he and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.^[i]

2 Samuel 12:24-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 12

Nathan is sent to David to charge him with his sin, and convince him of it by a parable, 2Sa 12:1-6; which being accommodated and applied to David's case, brought him to a conviction and acknowledgment of it, and repentance for it, which was forgiven him, 2Sa 12:7-13; though he is told the child begotten in adultery should die, and it was quickly struck with sickness and died; and David's behaviour during its sickness and at its death is recorded, 2Sa 12:14-23; after which Solomon was born to him of the same woman, and had the name of Jedidiah given him by the Lord, which signifies the beloved of the Lord, and as a token of reconciliation, and a confirmation of his sin being forgiven him, 2Sa 12:24,25; and the chapter is concluded with the taking of the city of Rabbah, and the spoil in it, and the usage of the inhabitants of it, 2Sa 12:26-31.

Footnotes

• [a]. Alt Hb tradition reads he named
• [b]. His Restoration, or His Peace
• [c]. 1 Ch 22:9
• [d]. Or prophet to name
• [e]. Beloved of the Lord
• [f]. LXX reads of Milcom; some emend to Molech; 1 Kg 11:5, 33
• [g]. Lit a talent
• [h]. Ex 1:13-14
• [i]. 1 Ch 20:1-3