2 Samuel 12:1-9

Nathan Rebukes David

1 And the LORD sent 1Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, 2"There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.
2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms,[a] and it was like a daughter to him.
4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."
5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, 3"As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die,
6 and he shall restore the lamb 4fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity."
7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 5'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more.
9 6Why have you despised the word of the LORD, 7to do what is evil in his sight? 8You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and 9have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.

Cross References 9

  • 1. ver. 7, 13, 15, 25; 2 Samuel 7:2, 4, 17; 1 Kings 1:10, 22, 34; 1 Kings 4:5; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29
  • 2. [2 Samuel 14:5-7; Judges 9:8-15]; 1 Kings 20:35-41
  • 3. See Ruth 3:13
  • 4. [Exodus 22:1; Luke 19:8]
  • 5. 1 Samuel 16:13
  • 6. Numbers 15:31
  • 7. 1 Samuel 15:19
  • 8. 2 Samuel 11:15, 17
  • 9. 2 Samuel 11:27

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew bosom; also verse 8
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.