2 Samuel 12:18

18 It happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead!

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 begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.

17 The elders of his house arose, [and stood] beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

18 It happened on the seventh day, that the child died. The servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn't listen to our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead!

19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, Is the child dead? They said, He is dead.

20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the house of Yahweh, and worshiped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he ate.