BSB
2 Samuel 12
1Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
2The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle,
3but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms and was like a daughter to him.
4Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.”
5David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
6Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”
7Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
8I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.
9Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.
10Now, 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 own.’
11This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.
12You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”
13Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
14Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
15After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
16David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.
17The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
18On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”
19When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” “He is dead,” they replied.
20Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.
21“What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.”
22David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
23But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
24Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child
25and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.
26Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress.
27Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city.
28Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”
29So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; and he fought against it and captured it.
30Then he took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city.
31David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
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Adultery: General Scriptures Concerning 2 Samuel 12:14
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
Adultery: Penalties For 2 Samuel 12:10–12
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 own.’ / This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. / You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’”
Afflicted Saints: Examples of Afflicted Saints: David 2 Samuel 12:15–23
After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. / David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. / The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
Afflictions and Adversities: Penitence in David 2 Samuel 12:15, 16, 23
After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. / David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. / But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In 2 Samuel 12:22
David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’
Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation in David, at the Death of his Child 2 Samuel 12:23
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Afflictions and Adversities: Resignation In, Exemplified 2 Samuel 12:23
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Afflictions and Adversities: Sinners Corrected By 2 Samuel 12:14
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
Afflictions: Sin Visited With 2 Samuel 12:14
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
Agriculture or Farming: Implements of The Harrow 2 Samuel 12:31
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
Ammonites: Defeated by the Israelites 2 Samuel 12:26–31
Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress. / Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. / Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”
Anointing in Consecration: David 2 Samuel 12:7
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
Anointing: Ointment For: Neglected in Times of Affliction 2 Samuel 12:20
Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.
Anointing: Omitted in Mourning 2 Samuel 12:20
Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.
Ax: An Implement 2 Samuel 12:31
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
Babies Going to Heaven 2 Samuel 12:22, 23
David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ / But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Beds: Not Used in Affliction 2 Samuel 12:16
David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.
Bereavement of his Child by Bath-Sheba 2 Samuel 12:15–23
After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. / David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground. / The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.
Bereavement: Resignation In 2 Samuel 12:22, 23
David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ / But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning 2 Samuel 12:14
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
Blasphemy: Gives No Occasion For 2 Samuel 12:14
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
Blasphemy: Infidels, Who Used the Adultery of David As an Occasion to Blaspheme 2 Samuel 12:14
Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”
Brick-Kiln: Captives Tortured In 2 Samuel 12:31
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
Brick: Made by Israelites 2 Samuel 12:31
David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.
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2 Samuel 12:1-14 Verses 1-14
God will not suffer his people to lie still in sin. By this parable Nathan drew from David a sentence against himself. Great need there is of prudence in giving reproofs. In his application, he was faithful. He says in plain terms, Thou art the man. God shows how much he hates sin, even in his own people; and wherever he finds it, he will not let it go unpunished. David says not a word to excuse himself or make light of his sin, but freely owns it. When David said, I have sinned, and Nathan perceived that he was a true penitent, he assured him his sin was forgiven. Thou shalt not die: that is, not die eternally, nor be for ever put away from God, as thou wouldest have been, if thou hadst not put away the sin. Though thou shalt all thy days be chastened of the Lord, yet thou shalt not be condemned with the world. There is this great evil in the sins of those who profess religion and relation to God, that they furnish the enemies of God and religion with matter for reproach and blasphemy. And it appears from David's case, that even where pardon is obtained, the Lord will visit the transgression of his people with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. For one momentary gratification of a vile lust, David had to endure many days and years of extreme distress.
2 Samuel 12:15-25 Verses 15-25
David now penned the 51st Psalm, in which, though he had been assured that his sin was pardoned, he prays earnestly for pardon, and greatly laments his sin. He was willing to bear the shame of it, to have it ever before him, to be continually upbraided with it. God gives us leave to be earnest with him in prayer for particular blessings, from trust in his power and general mercy, though we have no particular promise to build upon. David patiently submitted to the will of God in the death of one child, and God made up the loss to his advantage, in the birth of another. The way to have creature comforts continued or restored, or the loss made up some other way, is cheerfully to resign them to God. God, by his grace, particularly owned and favoured that son, and ordered him to be called Jedidiah, Beloved of the Lord. Our prayers for our children are graciously and as fully answered when some of them die in their infancy, for they are well taken care of, and when others live, "beloved of the Lord."
2 Samuel 12:26-31 Verses 26-31
To be thus severe in putting the children of Ammon to slavery was a sign that David's heart was not yet made soft by repentance, at the time when this took place. We shall be most compassionate, kind, and forgiving to others, when we most feel our need of the Lord's forgiving love, and taste the sweetness of it in our own souls.