2 Samuel 12:24-31

Solomon’s Birth

24 Then David comforted his wife, Bathsheba, and went in to her and lay with her, and ¹she bore a son, and he called his name ²Solomon. And the Lord loved him

25 and sent a message by Nathan the prophet. So he called his name Jedidiah, ^[a] because of the Lord.

Rabbah Is Captured

26 ³Now Joab ⁴fought against ⁵Rabbah of the Ammonites and took the royal city.

27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah; moreover, I have taken the city of waters.

28 Now then gather the rest of the people together and encamp against the city and take it, lest I take the city and it be called by my name. ”

29 So David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah and fought against it and took it.

30 And he took the crown of their king from his head. The weight of it was a talent^[b] of gold, and in it was a precious stone, and it was placed on David’s head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount.

31 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes and made them toil at^[c] the brick kilns. And thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people 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.

Cross References

• 1. 12:24 Matt. 1:6
• 2. 12:24 1 Chr. 22:9
• 3. 12:26 For ver. 26-31, see 1 Chr. 20:1-3
• 4. 12:26 ch. 11:1
• 5. 12:26 Deut. 3:11

Footnotes

• [a] 12:25 'Jedidiah' means 'beloved of the 'Lord
• [b] 12:30 A 'talent' was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms
• [c] 12:31 Hebrew 'pass through'