2 Samuel 12

2 Samuel 12:1

B. Confession to the Lord (Chap. 12)12:1-9 It is generally believed that about a year elapsed between chapters 11 and 12. During that time the hand of the LORD was heavy upon David; his spiritual struggle is described in Psalms 32 and 51. The prophet Nathan . . . came to him with this parable, asking David’s judgment on the matter: “A rich man with many sheep was unwilling to use any of his own animals as food when a visitor called on him. Instead, he took the one little ewe lamb belonging to a poor man and slaughtered it. David could judge sin in others more easily than in himself.

He angrily declared that the man should restore fourfold and deserved to die for his sin. Nathan fearlessly pointed the accusing finger at David, saying, in effect, “You are the man who did it. God dealt graciously with you, making you king, enriching you, giving you everything that your heart could desire. But you took Bathsheba from her husband and then killed him to cover your crime.” 12:10-14 The king’s solemn sentence was then pronounced: His children would be a grief to him. His family would be torn by bloody conflict. His wives would be stolen from him and violated publicly (see 2Sa_16:22). His sinful deed would become a matter of general knowledge. David then came to the place of repentance and confessed his sin as being against the LORD. Morgan comments: Note the “also” in verse 13. A man puts away his own sin when in sincerity he confesses it. That makes it possible for God also to put it away. Nathan immediately assured him that the penalty of his sin was remittedhe would not die. But the consequences of his sin would follow him. Actually, he would have to restore fourfold (Exo_22:1), as he himself had decreed concerning the rich man in the parable: The baby would die; Amnon would be murdered (chap. 13); Absalom would be slain (chap. 18); Adonijah would be executed (1 Kgs. 2). 12:15-23 When the baby became ill, David prostrated himself in prayer and fasting. He was deeply grieved. But when he learned that the baby had died, he arose and ate, explaining that the baby could not return, but that he, David, would one day join the baby when he died. Verse 23 has been a source of great comfort to believing parents who have lost infants and young children. Matthew Henry comments: Godly parents have great reason to hope concerning their children that die in infancy that it is well with their souls in the other world; for the promise is to us and to our seed, which shall be performed to those that do not put a bar in their own door, as infants do not. We can be confident that children who die before they reach the age of accountability go to heaven because Jesus said, “Of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Mat_19:14). That David possessed a deep understanding of God’s character is evident by the way he responded to God’s judgment. Before the blow fell he prayed, knowing that Jehovah was a God of mercy. After the blow fell he worshiped, knowing that Jehovah was a God of righteousness. He forgot the things that were behind, accepted the divine discipline, and looked ahead to the future. He did not despair because he knew that God would yet bless him. He was right. 12:24, 25 Bathsheba gave birth to another son, Solomon, who was destined to succeed his father as king. Through the prophet Nathan, God gave the child the additional name of Jedidiah (beloved of Jehovah). 12:26-30 Now the narrative returns to the attack against Rabbah interrupted at 2Sa_11:1 by David’s sin. It seems that Joab had captured all but one portion of the city, perhaps the fortress on the top. (Josephus and the NKJV say that Joab captured the city’s water supply, making surrender imminent.) Then he called for David to come and finish the job, thus giving him complete credit for the victory. It was a striking act of selflessness on Joab’s part. Joab was at best an unpredictable person. At times he seemed to show a real strength of character. But his overall behavior was that of a clever, ruthless, wicked schemer. David succeeded in capturing Rabbah and was rewarded with a crown . . . of gold weighing a talent, plus much other booty. 12:31 Bible scholars are disagreed as to whether the last verse describes cruel punishment to which David subjected the people of Ammon (KJV rendering) or whether it simply describes menial agricultural work or industrial servitude (NKJV rendering). The latter seems more typical of David’s way of dealing with his enemies.