2 Samuel 12:21

21 Then his slaves said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst 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 when David saw that his slaves whispered, David understood that the child was dead; therefore, David said unto his slaves, 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 clothes and came into the house of the LORD and worshipped. Then he came to his own house; and when he asked, they set bread before him, and he ate.

21 Then his slaves said unto him, What is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22 And he replied, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will have mercy on me, that the child may live?

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