II Samuel 12
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
There were two men in one city - See a discourse on fables at the end of Jdg 9:56 (note), and a discourse on parabolic writing at the end of the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. There is nothing in this parable that requires illustration; its bent is evident; and it was construed to make David, unwittingly, pass sentence on himself. It was in David's hand, what his own letters were in the hands of the brave but unfortunate Uriah.
Open source ↗NATHAN'S PARABLE. (Sa2 12:1-6) the Lord sent Nathan unto David--The use of parables is a favorite style of speaking among Oriental people, especially in the conveyance of unwelcome truth. This exquisitely pathetic parable was founded on a common custom of pastoral people who have pet lambs, which they bring up with their children, and which they address in terms of endearment. The atrocity of the real, however, far exceeded that of the fictitious offense.
Open source ↗And the Lord sent Nathan unto David,.... Quickly after the child was born begotten on Bathsheba, and when it was known and became the public talk of people, and the enemies of religion were full of it, and blasphemed on account of it, Sa2 12:14; so that David was nine months or more without any true sense of his sin, his heart hardened, his graces dormant, the joys of salvation taken from him, and he without any communion with God, and having little concern about it; though perhaps he might have some pangs at times, which quickly went off; though some think he exercised repentance in a private way before; acknowledged his sin to the Lord, and had a sense of pardon, and before this time penned the thirty second and the hundred thirtieth psalms on this occasion, Psa 32:1; but Nathan is sent to awaken and arouse him, to express a sense of his sin, and repentance for it in public, which he did by penning and publishing the fifty first psalm after Nathan had been with him, Psa 51:1; for though the Lord may leave his people to fall into sin, and suffer them to continue therein some time, yet not always; they shall rise again through the assistance of his Spirit and grace, in the acts of repentance and faith, both in private and public: and he came unto him, and said unto him: he came as if he had a case to lay before him, and to have justice done, and he told the story as if it was a real fact, and so David understood it: there were two men in one city: pointing at David and Uriah, who both lived in Jerusalem: the one rich and the other poor; David the rich man, king over all Israel; Uriah a subject, an officer in his army, comparatively poor.
Open source ↗Sa2 12:1-4 Nathan's Reproof. - Sa2 12:1. To ensure the success of his mission, viz., to charge the king with his crimes, Nathan resorted to a parable by which he led on the king to pronounce sentence of death upon himself. The parable is a very simple one, and drawn from life. Two men were living in a certain city: the one was rich, and had many sheep and oxen; the other was poor, and possessed nothing at all but one small lamb which he had bought and nourished (יחיּה, lit. kept alive), so that it grew up in his house along with his son, and was treated most tenderly and loved like a daughter. The custom of keeping pet-sheep in the house, as we keep lap-dogs, is still met with among the Arabs (vid., Bochart, Hieroz. i. p. 594). There came a traveller (הלך, a journey, for a traveller) to the rich man (לאישׁ without an article, the express definition being introduced afterwards in connection with the adjective העשׁיר; vid., Ewald, 293a, p. 741), and he grudged to take of his own sheep and oxen to prepare (sc., a meal) for the traveller who had come to his house; "and he took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that had come to him." Sa2 12:5-6 David was so enraged at this act of violence on the part of the rich man, that in the heat of his anger he pronounced this sentence at once: "As the Lord liveth, the man who did this deserves to die; and the lamb he shall restore fourfold." The fourfold restoration corresponds to the law in Exo 22:1. The culprit himself was also to be put to death, because the forcible robbery of a poor man's pet-lamb was almost as bad as man-stealing. Sa2 12:7-8 The parable was so selected that David could not suspect that it had reference to him and to his son. With all the greater shock therefore did the words of the prophet, "Thou ar…
Open source ↗It seems to have been a great while after David had been guilty of adultery with Bath-sheba before he was brought to repentance for it. For, when Nathan was sent to him, the child was born (Sa2 12:14), so that it was about nine months that David lay under the guilt of that sin, and, for aught that appears, unrepented of. What shall we think of David's state all this while? Can we imagine that his heart never smote him for it, or that he never lamented it in secret before God? I would willingly hope that he did, and that Nathan was sent to him, immediately upon the birth of the child, when the thing by that means came to be publicly known and talked of, to draw from him an open confession of the sin, to the glory of God, the admonition of others, and that he might receive, by Nathan, absolution with certain limitations. But, during these nine months, we may well suppose his comforts and the exercises of his graces suspended, and his communion with God interrupted; during all that time, it is certain, he penned no psalms, his harp was out of tune, and his soul like a tree in winter, that has life in the root only. Therefore, after Nathan had been with him, he prays, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and open thou my lips, Psa 51:12, Psa 51:15. Let us observe, I. The messenger God sent to him. We were told by the last words of the foregoing chapter that the thing David had done displeased the Lord, upon which, one would think, it should have followed that the Lord sent enemies to invade him, terrors to take hold on him, and the messengers of death to arrest him. No, he sent a prophet to him - Nathan, his faithful friend and confidant, to instruct and counsel him, Sa2 12:1. David did not send for Nathan (though he had never had so much occasion as he had now for his…
Open source ↗12:1-31 Chapter 12 expands on the last phrase of 11:27. 12:1 The Lord sent Nathan to David at least nine months after his adulterous sin. • This story is a rare Old Testament instance of a parable (see also Judg 9:8-15). Such stories can be effective for communicating truth. • David was rich in the royal treasures he possessed, the number of wives he had, and all the promises of God for his future. Uriah by contrast was poor: he had one wife, one home, and no lineage.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) נָתָן (Nâthân, H5416) — Nathan, the name of five Israelites דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… עָשִׁיר (ʻâshîyr, H6223) — rich, whether literal or figurative (noble) רוּשׁ (rûwsh, H7326) — to be destitute
Open source ↗עָשִׁיר (ʻâshîyr, H6223) — rich, whether literal or figurative (noble) מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);…
Open source ↗רוּשׁ (rûwsh, H7326) — to be destitute אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first קָטָן (qâṭân, H6996) — abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in… כִּבְשָׂה (kibsâh, H3535) — a ewe קָנָה (qânâh, H7069) — to erect, i.e. create; by extension, to procure, especially by purchase (causatively,… חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive גָּדַל (gâdal, H1431) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor,… יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) פַּת (path, H6595) — a bit שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) כּוֹס (kôwç, H3563) — a cup (as a container), often figuratively, a lot (as if a potion); also some unclean… שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) הֵלֶךְ (hêlek, H1982) — properly, a journey, i.e. (by implication) a wayfarer; also a flowing עָשִׁיר (ʻâshîyr, H6223) — rich, whether literal or figurative (noble) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… חָמַל (châmal, H2550) — to commiserate; by implication, to spare לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) בָּקָר (bâqâr, H1241) — beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing);… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אָרַח (ʼârach, H732) — to travel רוּשׁ (rûwsh, H7326) — to be destitute כִּבְשָׂה (kibsâh, H3535) — a ewe
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… חָרָה (chârâh, H2734) — to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נָתָן (Nâthân, H5416) — Nathan, the name of five Israelites יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);…
Open source ↗שָׁלַם (shâlam, H7999) — to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed;… כִּבְשָׂה (kibsâh, H3535) — a ewe אַרְבַּעְתַּיִם (ʼarbaʻtayim, H706) — fourfold עֵקֶב (ʻêqeb, H6118) — a heel, i.e. (figuratively) the last of anything (used adverbially, for ever); also… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) — who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because,… חָמַל (châmal, H2550) — to commiserate; by implication, to spare
Open source ↗נָתָן (Nâthân, H5416) — Nathan, the name of five Israelites אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מָשַׁח (mâshach, H4886) — to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4428) — a king נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman חֵיק (chêyq, H2436) — the bosom (literally or figuratively) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) יָסַף (yâçaph, H3254) — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing) הֵנָּה (hênnâh, H2007) — themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
Open source ↗בָּזָה (bâzâh, H959) — to disesteem דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) אוּרִיָּה (ʼÛwrîyâh, H223) — Urijah, the name of one Hittite and five Israelites חִתִּי (Chittîy, H2850) — a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman הָרַג (hârag, H2026) — to smite with deadly intent בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative…
Open source ↗חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… עַד (ʻad, H5704) — as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until)… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) עֵקֶב (ʻêqeb, H6118) — a heel, i.e. (figuratively) the last of anything (used adverbially, for ever); also… בָּזָה (bâzâh, H959) — to disesteem לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman אוּרִיָּה (ʼÛwrîyâh, H223) — Urijah, the name of one Hittite and five Israelites חִתִּי (Chittîy, H2850) — a Chittite, or descendant of Cheth
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched…
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application סֵתֶר (çêther, H5643) — a cover (in a good or a bad, a literal or a figurative sense) דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched…
Open source ↗דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נָתָן (Nâthân, H5416) — Nathan, the name of five Israelites חָטָא (châṭâʼ, H2398) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… חַטָּאָה (chaṭṭâʼâh, H2403) — an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or… מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗אֶפֶס (ʼepheç, H657) — cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause נָאַץ (nâʼats, H5006) — to scorn; אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִלּוֹד (yillôwd, H3209) — born מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗Cross-references
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But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are on your way to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron?’
Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
For surely we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him.
Suddenly, as Jeroboam was standing beside the altar to burn incense, there came a man of God from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD.
So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision.
After a long time, in the third year of the drought, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the face of the earth.”