2 Samuel 12:10-23

10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’

11 “This is what the LORD says: ‘Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.

12 You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”

13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.

14 But because by doing this you have shown utter contempt for^[a] the LORD, the son born to you will die.”

15 After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.

16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth^[b] on the ground.

17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.”

19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.”

20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!”

22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’

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

2 Samuel 12:10-23 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. 2 Samuel 13:28; 2 Samuel 18:14-15; 1 Kings 2:25
• 2. 2 Samuel 16:11
• 3. Deuteronomy 28:30; 2 Samuel 16:21-22
• 4. S Deuteronomy 17:17
• 5. 2 Samuel 11:4-15
• 6. 2 Samuel 16:22
• 7. S Genesis 13:13; S Genesis 20:6; S Numbers 22:34; 1 Samuel 15:24; 2 Samuel 24:10
• 8. Psalms 32:1-5; Psalms 51:1,9; Psalms 103:12; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22; Zechariah 3:4,9
• 9. Proverbs 28:13; Jeremiah 2:35; Micah 7:18-19
• 10. Leviticus 20:10; Leviticus 24:17
• 11. Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24
• 12. S 1 Samuel 25:38
• 13. 2 Samuel 13:31; Psalms 5:7; Psalms 95:6
• 14. S Genesis 37:35; S 1 Samuel 1:7
• 15. S 2 Samuel 3:35; Daniel 6:18
• 16. Matthew 6:17
• 17. S Genesis 41:14; Job 1:20
• 18. Judges 20:26
• 19. John 3:9
• 20. Isaiah 38:1-5
• 21. Genesis 37:35
• 22. S 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 13:39; Job 7:10; Job 10:21

Footnotes

• [a] An ancient Hebrew scribal tradition; Masoretic Text "for the enemies of"
• [b] Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint; Masoretic Text does not have "in sackcloth" .