2nd Samuel Chapter 12

From The Open Bible Project

12:1 Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

• (a) Because David lay now drowned in sin, the loving mercy of God which does not allow his own to perish, wakes his conscience by this story and brings him to repentance.

12:2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds,

12:3 but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him, and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was to him like a daughter.

12:4 A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man who had come to him."

12:5 David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this is worthy to die!

12:6 He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity!"

12:7 Nathan said to David, "You are the man. This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.

12:8 I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things.

• (b) For David succeeded Saul in his kingdom.
• (c) The Jews take this to be Eglah and Michal, or Rizpah and Michal.
• (d) That is, greater things than these: for God’s love and benefits increase toward his own, if they do not hinder him by their ingratitude.

12:9 Why have you despised the word of Yahweh, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

• (e) You have most cruelly given him into the hands of God’s enemies.

12:10 Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'

12:11 "This is what Yahweh says: 'Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

• (f) Meaning openly, at noon.

12:12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.'"

12:13 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh." Nathan said to David, "Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.

• (g) For the Lord seeks the sinner to turn to him.

12:14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh's enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die."

• (h) In saying, that the Lord has appointed a wicked man to reign over his people.

12:15 Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick.

12:16 David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the earth.

• (i) That is, to his private chamber.

12:17 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.

• (k) Thinking by his constant prayer that God would have restored his child, but God had determined otherwise.

12:18 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 harm himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?"

12:19 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."

12:20 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.

• (l) Showing that our lamentations should not be excessive, but moderate: and that we must praise God in all his doings.

12:21 Then said his servants to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread."

• (m) As they who did not consider that God grants many things to the sobs and tears of the faithful.

12:22 He said, "While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?'

12:23 But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."

• (n) By this consideration he appeased his sorrow.

12:24 David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her. She bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him;

• (o) That is, the Lord, (1 Chronicles 22:9).

12:25 and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh's sake.

• (p) To call him Solomon.
• (q) Meaning, David.

12:26 Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

12:27 Joab sent messengers to David, and said, "I have fought against Rabbah. Yes, I have taken the city of waters.

• (r) That is, the chief city and where all the water pipes are, is as good as taken.

12:28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name."

12:29 David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

12:30 He took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and [in it were] precious stones; and it was set on David's head. He brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.

• (s) That is, 60 pounds after the weight of the common talent.

12:31 He brought forth the people who were therein, and put them under saws, and under iron picks, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick kiln: and he did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

• (t) Signifying that as they were malicious enemies of God, so he put them to cruel death.