2 Samuel 12:18

18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!"

2 Samuel 12:18 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 12:18

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died,
&c.] Not the seventh day from its being taken ill, but from its birth; for it cannot be thought that David should fast seven days:

and the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead;
lest he should be overwhelmed with too much sorrow:

for they said, behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto
him;
to rise from the ground, and eat food:

and he would not hearken unto our voice;
we could not prevail upon him to do the one nor the other:

how will he then vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead?
or should we acquaint him with it, "he will do mischief" ^F23 to himself, to his body; he will tear his flesh to pieces, and cut and kill himself; this they were afraid of, observing the distress and agony he was in while it was living, and therefore they concluded these would increase upon hearing of its death.

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (her hvew) (kai poihsei kaka) , Sept. "faciat malum", Pagninus, Montanus; "malum [sibi] inferet", Syr. Ar.

2 Samuel 12:18 In-Context

16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

17 So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!"

19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead."

20 So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.