2 Samuel 12:24-31

24 Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child

25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means “beloved of the LORD ”), as the LORD had commanded.

26 Meanwhile, Joab was fighting against Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and he captured the royal fortifications.

27 Joab sent messengers to tell David, “I have fought against Rabbah and captured its water supply.

28 Now bring the rest of the army and capture the city. Otherwise, I will capture it and get credit for the victory.”

29 So David gathered the rest of the army and went to Rabbah, and he fought against it and captured it.

30 David removed the crown from the king’s head, and it was placed on his own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and it weighed seventy-five pounds. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city.

31 He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, and to work in the brick kilns. That is how he dealt with the people of all the Ammonite towns. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.

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]. Hebrew he; an alternate Hebrew reading and some Hebrew manuscripts read she.
• [b]. As in Greek version; Hebrew reads because of the .
• [c]. Or the royal city.
• [d]. Or captured the city of water.
• [e]. Or from the head of Milcom (as in Greek version). Milcom, also called Molech, was the god of the Ammonites.
• [f]. Hebrew 1 talent [34 kilograms].
• [g]. Hebrew He also brought out the people [of Rabbah] and put them under.
• [h]. Hebrew and he made them pass through the brick kilns.