2 Samuel 12:17

Verse

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.

American Standard Version (1901)

And 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.

Bible in Basic English

And the chief men of his house got up and went to his side to make him get up from the earth, but he would not; and he would not take food with them.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And the ancients of his house came, to make him rise from the ground: but he would not, neither did he eat meat with them.

Free Bible Version

His senior officials approached him and tried to help him up from the ground, but he didn't want to, and he refused their appeals to eat.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then the Elders of his house arose to come vnto him, and to cause him to rise from the groud: but he would not, neither did he eate meate with them.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

The next morning his advisors stood around him and urged him to get up. But he would not get up, and he would not eat any food with them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

The elders of his house arose and stood beside him, to raise him up from the floor, but he would not get up, and he would not eat with them.

Noah Webster Bible

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

World English Bible

The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them.

Young's Literal Translation

And the elders of his house rise against him, to raise him up from the earth, and he hath not been willing, nor hath he eaten with them bread;

Context

David’s Loss and Repentance

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.

Summary

This verse depicts the intense grief and desperation of King David upon learning that his son with Bathsheba was gravely ill. David's fasting and pleading with God reveal his deep remorse and repentance for his sins, particularly his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. Despite his past transgressions, David's actions in this moment demonstrate his humility and reliance on God's mercy and grace. This event serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking forgiveness and restoration through genuine repentance.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died,.... Not the seventh day from its being taken ill, but from its birth; for it cannot be thought that David should fast seven days: and the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; lest he should be overwhelmed with too much sorrow: for they said, behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him; to rise from the ground, and eat food: and he would not hearken unto our voice; we could not prevail upon him to do the one nor the other: how will he then vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead? or should we acquaint him with it, "he will do mischief" (w) to himself, to his body; he will tear his flesh to pieces, and cut and kill himself; this they were afraid of, observing the distress and agony he was in while it was living, and therefore they concluded these would increase upon hearing of its death. (w) , Sept. "faciat malum", Pagninus, Montanus; "malum sibi inferet", Syr. Ar.