16 David H1732 therefore besought H1245 God H430 for the child; H5288 and David H1732 fasted, H6684 H6685 and went in, H935 and lay H7901 all night H3885 upon the earth. H776
17 And the elders H2205 of his house H1004 arose, H6965 and went to him, to raise him up H6965 from the earth: H776 but he would H14 not, neither did he eat H1262 bread H3899 with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh H7637 day, H3117 that the child H3206 died. H4191 And the servants H5650 of David H1732 feared H3372 to tell H5046 him that the child H3206 was dead: H4191 for they said, H559 Behold, while the child H3206 was yet alive, H2416 we spake H1696 unto him, and he would not hearken H8085 unto our voice: H6963 how will he then H6213 vex H7451 himself, H6213 if we tell H559 him that the child H3206 is dead? H4191
19 But when David H1732 saw H7200 that his servants H5650 whispered, H3907 David H1732 perceived H995 that the child H3206 was dead: H4191 therefore David H1732 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Is the child H3206 dead? H4191 And they said, H559 He is dead. H4191
20 Then David H1732 arose H6965 from the earth, H776 and washed, H7364 and anointed H5480 himself, and changed H2498 his apparel, H8071 and came H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and worshipped: H7812 then he came H935 to his own house; H1004 and when he required, H7592 they set H7760 bread H3899 before him, and he did eat. H398
21 Then said H559 his servants H5650 unto him, What thing H1697 is this that thou hast done? H6213 thou didst fast H6684 and weep H1058 for the child, H3206 while it was alive; H2416 but when the child H3206 was dead, H4191 thou didst rise H6965 and eat H398 bread. H3899
22 And he said, H559 While the child H3206 was yet alive, H2416 I fasted H6684 and wept: H1058 for I said, H559 Who can tell H3045 whether GOD H3068 will be gracious H2603 H2603 to me, that the child H3206 may live? H2416
23 But now he is dead, H4191 wherefore should I fast? H6684 can H3201 I bring him back again? H7725 I shall go H1980 to him, but he shall not return H7725 to me.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 12
Commentary on 2 Samuel 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
The foregoing chapter gave us the account of David's sin; this gives us the account of his repentance. Though he fell, he was not utterly cast down, but, by the grace of God, recovered himself, and found mercy with God. Here is,
2Sa 12:1-14
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 (v. 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, Ps. 51:12, 15. Let us observe,
2Sa 12:15-25
Nathan, having delivered his message, staid not at court, but went home, probably to pray for David, to whom he had been preaching. God, in making use of him as an instrument to bring David to repentance, and as the herald both of mercy and judgment, put an honour upon the ministry, and magnified his word above all his name. David named one of his sons by Bath-sheba Nathan, in honour of this prophet (1 Chr. 3:5), and it was that son of whom Christ, the great prophet, lineally descended, Lu. 3:31. When Nathan retired, David, it is probable, retired likewise, and 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; for then will true penitents be ashamed of what they have done when God is pacified towards them, Eze. 16:63.
Here is,
2Sa 12:26-31
We have here an account of the conquest of Rabbah, and other cities of the Ammonites. Though this comes in here after the birth of David's child, yet it is most probable that it was effected a good while before, and soon after the death of Uriah, perhaps during the days of Bath-sheba's mourning for him. Observe,