1 AND the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto 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 whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
24 And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the Lord loved him.
25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord.
26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
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.
29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.

1And the Lord sent Nathan vnto Dauid: and he came vnto him, and said vnto him, There were two men in one citie; the one rich, and the other poore.

2The rich man had exceeding many flockes and herds.

3But the poore man had nothing saue one litle ewe lambe, which he had bought and nourished vp: and it grew vp together with him, and with his children, it did eate of his owne meate, and dranke of his owne cup, and lay in his bosome, and was vnto him as a daughter.

4And there came a traueller vnto the rich man, and he spared to take of his owne flocke, and of his owne herd, to dresse for the wayfaring man that was come vnto him, but tooke the poore mans lambe, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.

5And Dauids anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liueth, the man that hath done this thing, shall surely die.

6And he shall restore the Lambe fourefold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pittie.

7 And Nathan said to Dauid, Thou art the man: thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king ouer Israel, and I deliuered thee out of the hand of Saul,

8And I gaue thee thy Masters house, and thy Masters wiues into thy bosome, and gaue thee the house of Israel and of Iudah, and if that had bene too litle, I would moreouer haue giuen vnto thee such and such things.

9Wherefore hast thou despised the commandement of the Lord, to doe euill in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slaine him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10Now therefore the sword shall neuer depart from thine house, because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite, to be thy wife.

11Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise vp euill against thee out of thine owne house, and I will take thy wiues before thine eyes, and giue them vnto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wiues in the sight of this Sunne.

12For thou diddest it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the Sunne.

13And Dauid saide vnto Nathan, I haue sinned against the Lord. And Nathan saide vnto Dauid, The Lord also hath put away thy sinne, thou shalt not die.

14Howbeit, because by this deede thou hast giuen great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the childe also that is borne vnto thee, shall surely die.

15 And Nathan departed vnto his house: and the Lord strake the childe that Uriahs wife bare vnto Dauid, and it was very sicke.

16Dauid therfore besought God for the childe, and Dauid fasted, and went in, and lay all night vpon the earth.

17And the Elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him vp from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eate bread with them.

18And it came to passe on the seuenth day, that the childe died: and the seruants of Dauid feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they saide, Behold, while the childe was yet aliue, we spake vnto him, and he would not hearken vnto our voice: how will he then vexe himselfe, if we tell him that the childe is dead?

19But when Dauid saw that his seruants whispered, Dauid perceiued that the childe was dead: therefore Dauid said vnto his seruants, Is the child dead? and they said, He is dead.

20Then Dauid arose from the earth and washed, and anointed himselfe, and changed his apparell, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then hee came to his owne house, and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eate.

21Then said his seruants vnto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weepe for the childe, while it was aliue, but when the childe was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22And he said, While the child was yet aliue, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell, whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may liue?

23But now hee is dead, Wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him backe againe? I shall goe to him, but he shall not returne to me.

24 And Dauid comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in vnto her, and lay with her: and she bare a sonne, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loued him.

25And hee sent by the hand of Nathan the Prophet, and hee called his name Iedidiah, because of the Lord.

26 And Ioab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and tooke the royall citie.

27And Ioab sent messengers to Dauid, and said, I haue fought against Rabbah, and haue taken the citie of waters.

28Now therefore, gather the rest of the people together, and encampe against the citie, and take it: lest I take the citie, and it be called after my name.

29And Dauid gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and tooke it.

30And he tooke their kings crowne from off his head (the weight whereof was a talent of gold, with the precious stones) and it was set on Dauids head, and he brought forth the spoile of the citie in great abundance.

31And he brought foorth the people that were therein, and put them vnder sawes, and vnder harrowes of yron, and vnder axes of yron, and made them passe through the bricke-kilne: And thus did he vnto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So Dauid and all the people returned vnto Ierusalem.

I == 2nd Sam 14:5 ; 1st Kings 20:35-41 ; Isa 5:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

V == 1st Sam 26:16

 

 

VI == Ex 22:1 ; Luke 19:8

 

VII == 1st Sam 16:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Num 15:31 ; 1st Sam 15:19 ; 2nd Sam 11:15-17 , 27

 

 

X == Amos 7:9

 

 

XI == Deut 28:30 ; 2nd Sam 16:22

 

 

 

XII == 2nd Sam 16:22

XIII == 1st Sam 15:24 ; 2nd Sam 24:10 ; Job 7:20-21 ; Ps 32:1 , 5 ; 51:4 ; Prov 28:13 ; Mic 7:18 ; Zech 3:4

XIV == Isa 52:5 ; Ezek 36:20 , 23 ; Rom 2:24

 

 

 

XVI == 2nd Sam 13:31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XX == Ruth 3:3 ; Job 1:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXII == Isa 38:1 , 5 ; Jon 3:9

 

 

XXIII == Job 7:8-10

 

XXIV == 1st Chr 22:9 ; Matt 1:6

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Deut 3:11 ; 1st Chr 20:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXX == 1st Chr 20:2

1 The LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he came to him, he said: "Judge this case for me! In a certain town there were two men, one rich, the other poor.

2 The rich man had flocks and herds in great numbers.

3 But the poor man had nothing at all except one little ewe lamb that he had bought. He nourished her, and she grew up with him and his children. She shared the little food he had and drank from his cup and slept in his bosom. She was like a daughter to him.

4 Now, the rich man received a visitor, but he would not take from his own flocks and herds to prepare a meal for the wayfarer who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man's ewe lamb and made a meal of it for his visitor."

5 David grew very angry with that man and said to Nathan: "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this merits death!

6 He shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold because he has done this and has had no pity."

7 Then Nathan said to David: "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king of Israel. I rescued you from the hand of Saul.

8 I gave you your lord's house and your lord's wives for your own. I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were not enough, I could count up for you still more.

9 Why have you spurned the LORD and done evil in his sight? You have cut down Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you took his wife as your own, and him you killed with the sword of the Ammonites.

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

11 Thus says the LORD: 'I will bring evil upon you out of your own house. I will take your wives while you live to see it, and will give them to your neighbor. He shall lie with your wives in broad daylight.

12 You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.'"

13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan answered David: "The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die.

14 But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die."

15 Then Nathan returned to his house. The LORD struck the child that the wife of Uriah had borne to David, and it became desperately ill.

16 David besought God for the child. He kept a fast, retiring for the night to lie on the ground clothed in sackcloth.

17 The elders of his house stood beside him urging him to rise from the ground; but he would not, nor would he take food with them.

18 On the seventh day, the child died. David's servants, however, were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said: "When the child was alive, we spoke to him, but he would not listen to what we said. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do some harm!"

19 But David noticed his servants whispering among themselves and realized that the child was dead. He asked his servants, "Is the child dead?" They replied, "Yes, he is."

20 Rising from the ground, David washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes. Then he went to the house of the LORD and worshiped. He returned to his own house, where at his request food was set before him, and he ate.

21 His servants said to him: "What is this you are doing? While the child was living, you fasted and wept and kept vigil; now that the child is dead, you rise and take food."

22 He replied: "While the child was living, I fasted and wept, thinking, 'Perhaps the LORD will grant me the child's life.'

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."

24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba. He went and slept with her; and she conceived and bore him a son, who was named Solomon. The LORD loved him

25 and sent the prophet Nathan to name him Jedidiah, on behalf of the LORD.

26 Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured this royal city.

27 He sent messengers to David with the word: "I have fought against Rabbah and have taken the water-city.

28 Therefore, assemble the rest of the soldiers, join the siege against the city and capture it, lest it be I that capture the city and it be credited to me."

29 So David assembled the rest of the soldiers and went to Rabbah. When he had fought against it and captured it,

30 he took the crown from Milcom's head. It weighed a talent, of gold and precious stones; it was placed on David's head. He brought out immense booty from the city,

31 and also led away the inhabitants, whom he assigned to work with saws, iron picks, and iron axes, or put to work at the brickmold. This is what he did to all the Ammonite cities. David and all the soldiers then returned to Jerusalem.

V 1-4 This utterance of Nathan is in regular lines in Hebrew, resembling English blank verse.

v 1-6. David’s fellowship with God was broken and his conscience had bothered him and given him much grief, Ps. 51, but not enough to bring him to repentance. Thus the Lord sent Nathan to prompt that conscience with a hypothetical situation. David was very angry at a rich man who would steal his neighbor’s one lone lamb, and decreed that he should repay fourfold and be put to death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 7- 12. Nathan, the prophet, bluntly exposed David with the words, “Thou art the man”. He pointed out that David had wives and could have had more, but he killed Uriah with the sword of the enemy so he could take his wife. David would have many family problems and though he acted in secret, another would take his wives in public view. This happened when during his revolt, Absalom took David’s concubines into a tent set up on the roof for all to witness, 2 Sam. 16:21,22. Other family problems were Amnon’s incest with Tamar and his subsequent murder by Absalom; Absalom’s exile, his stealth and rebellion, and finally his death in battle; and when David was dying, his son Adonijah tried to usurp the throne and was executed as a traitor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 13,14. David immediately confessed his sin. The Lord had put away David’s sin, that is, the Lord would not slay him for it,  but his actions had caused evil people to blaspheme God, so the child would die.

 

 

v 15-18. Later God struck David and Bathsheba’s child with a severe sickness. David fasted and prayed and would not eat for a week, but on the seventh day the child died. The servants feared to tell David because of what his response would be. David’s concern had not been just for the child, but for God’s mercy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

v 19,21. David noticed them whispering, so he asked if the child had died. When he was told that it had, he prepared himself before the lord and partook of food. This amazed the servants, that David would lay aside his extreme grief and start eating again after the child had died.

 

 

 

 

v 22,23. David explained that his intense petitioning was that perhaps the Lord would spare the child. Then he uttered the words that give us positive assurance of the preservation of the souls of children before they each the age of accountability, and resurrection of the righteous. “I shall go to him, but he shall not return unto me.”

v 24,25.  David and Bathsheba named the next child Solomon (“Peace”), but the Lord, through Nathan, named him Jedidiah (“Beloved of Jehovah”). The child had a double name.

v 26-31. Compare 1 Chr. 20:1-3. This portion may have been delayed in order to deal with David’s sin first, but if it is in chronological order,  the siege of Rabbah had been going on for around two years. Joab had cut off their water supply and had all but taken the city. He generously sent word for David to lead the final assault on the city so he would get the credit, not Joab. David had the city sacked, taking many spoils. He took the king’s jewel laden gold crown and placed it on his own head. It weighed about 75 pounds, so he probably didn’t wear it long. V 30 Weighed a talent: since this would be more than 75 pounds, some commentators picture the idol's crown as displaying a single precious stone of large size, which David took to wear; but the text does not say this.

V 31 Some think this is unprecedented cruelty. It is properly translated, “And he brought forth the people who were in it, and set them to labor with saws and iron picks and iron axes, and made them toil at the brick kilns; and thus he did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.”