2 Samuel 12
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 12
NJB (MT versing) Nathan Rebukes David Nathan's Parable and David's Confession Rebuke of David by the Prophet Nathan; David's Repentance Nathan's Message and David's Repentance David Rebuked by Nathan, His Repentance 11:27b-12:6 12:1-6 (1b-4) 12:1-6 12:1-4 12:1-4 (1b-4) 12:5-6 12:5-6 12:7-15a 12:7-15a 12:7-15a 12:7-12 12:7-10 12:11-12 12:13a 12:13-15 12:13b-15a Loss of a Child The Death of David's Son David's Son Dies 12:15b-20 12:15b-23 12:15b-19 12:15b-18 Death of Bathsheba's Child, Birth of Solomon 12:16-19 12:19 12:20-23 12:20-21 12:20-23 12:21-23 12:22-23 Solomon Born Solomon Is Born Birth of Solomon Solomon Is Born 12:24-25 12:24-25 12:24-25 12:24-25 12:24-25 War Again Rabbah Is Captured Conclusion of Campaign Against Ammon David Captures Rabbah Capture of Rabbah 12:26-31 12:26-31 12:26-31 12:26-31 12:26-31 Etc.
2 Samuel 12:1-6
12:1 "Then the Lord sent Nathan to David" Josephus, Antiq. 7.7.3, tells us that YHWH spoke to Nathan in a dream. Many kings used the High Priest as their personal spiritual confidant but David used the prophet Nathan in addition to discern God's will. SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) 12:1b-4 This is Nathan's parable about an abuse of power that caused David to repent. 12:5 "David's anger burned greatly against the man" Nathan approached David as the supreme jurist of the nation of Israel. Nathan's parable (vv. 1-4) appealed to David's sense of fair play and justice! ▣ "As the Lord lives" This was an oath in YHWH's name. The phrase "as the Lord lives" related to the covenant name of God, YHWH, which is from the Hebrew VERB "to be" (cf. Exod. 3:14). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ "deserves to die" This is literally, "is a son of death"; there is no VERB, but an emphatic CONJUNCTION (BDB 471). David committed several acts worthy of death. lust rape/seduction of a married woman premeditated murder SPECIAL TOPIC: "SONS OF. . ." (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: ADULTERY SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER 12:6 "restitution" This was a part of the "guilt offering." SPECIAL TOPIC: SACRIFICES IN MESOPOTAMIA AND ISRAEL AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE, E. ▣ "fourfold" The Targums have "forty-fold," while the LXX has "sevenfold" (cf. Pro. 6:31), but "four" (MT) fits Exod. 22:1 better. The term "seven" would denote "a perfect restitution," not a literal number in this text. SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #4 ▣ "no compassion" NKJV, NRSV, NJB, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "no pity" "did not refrain" "cold hearted" The MT has the NEGATED VERB (BDB 328, KB 328, Qal PERFECT), "spare." NET Bible's translation, "cold hearted" communicates the thought. Notice the implication of a PERFECT VERB is a settled condition.
2 Samuel 12:7-15
12:7-8,11-12 Notice the number of times "I" appears. YHWH blessed (vv. 7-8) and He will bring judgment (vv. 9-15). This reflects the cursing and blessing sections of Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28. YHWH is no respecter of persons! 12:7 "You are the man!" This emphatic statement has no VERB. The Spirit will use this to convince David of his sin (cf. Psalm 32; 51). ▣ "It is I who anointed you king" Anointing was a sign of YHWH's special choice and equipment for a task. The word anointing later became a title for YHWH's special servant—"the Messiah," which is translated in Greek as "Christ." SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH 12:9 "doing evil in His sight" This goes back to 2 Sam. 10:27. David's actions reflected on YHWH's character, cf. 2 Sam. 12:14. ▣ "You have struck down Uriah" David did not personally kill Uriah but he planned it and put it in motion (2 Sam. 11:14-15). ▣ "Hittite" During the late 1800's and early 1900's the Bible as reliable history was greatly questioned because of its use of the term "Hittite." There was no other reference to this historical empire than the Bible itself until around the 1940's, when an archaeological discovery was made in central Turkey that found a royal library of 2300 cuneiform slates that documented 2000 years of the Hittite Empire. This empire went by two names Anatolia Hittite Every time archaeology makes a discovery the historicity of the Bible is confirmed! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE BIBLE (ITS UNIQUENESS AND INSPIRATION) ▣ "have taken his wife" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ADULTERY. ▣ "have killed him" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER. 12:10 "the sword shall never depart from your house" As David destroyed one man's house out of greedy passion, God will recompense to him the same destruction (cf. Galations 6:9). See full note at 2 Sam. 11:4. The word translated "never" is really the Hebrew term 'olam (forever). This word must be interpreted in context. SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam) 12:11 "I will raise up evil against you from your own household" As David's judgment was fourfold restitution (v. 6), so the irony and tragedy of his own family is that four of his sons would die: the first child born to Bathsheba, Amnon, Absalom, Adonijah. ▣ "I will even take your wives before your eyes. . .in broad daylight" This refers to Absalom's actions recorded in 2 Sam. 16:20-23. 12:12 "you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun" His secret sins will be brought to light (cf. Luke 8:17; 12:2). 12:13 "I have sinned against the Lord" All sin is against God (cf. Ps. 51:4). Confession is important for restoration of fellowship and joy (cf. 1 John 1:9; Ps. 51:12). We see David's inner struggle with this episode of personal rebellion so clearly in Psalms 32 and 51. ▣ "The Lord has taken away your sin" This is a major truth. David's sins were so odious yet YHWH's mercy has the last word. Notice there is no sacrifice mentioned. There is a wonderful power in human confession and repentance the merciful character of Israel's covenant God SPECIAL TOPIC: CONFESSION SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: FORGIVENESS IN THE OT, #6 ▣ "you shall not die" According to the Mosaic Law the penalty for murder and adultery is death (cf. Lev. 20:10). Although David personally was spared the death sentence, his family paid the price. For you see, the consequences of sin continue through time! See full note at 2 Sam. 11:4. 12:14 "because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme" The MT has "because you have utterly spurned the enemies of YHWH by this deed." The VERB is in an intensified form (i.e., an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and Piel PERFECT VERB of the same root (BDB 610, KB 658, Piel), "spurn." The JPSOA footnote says, "The phrase is intended to avoid saying "spurned the Lord." See similar ellipsis at 1 Sam. 25:22. This emendation is supported by Rashi. He states "to preserve the glory of God." The longer reading in the MT and NASB is one of a few suggested changes to the Hebrew texts by the Masoretic scholars who produced the MT. David's acts hurt YHWH's will to introduce Himself to the nations through Israel and her king. ▣ "the child also that is born to you shall surely die" If YHWH had not acted in justice toward David He would have been accused of playing favorites. Therefore, we have the twin realities of: the sins of the father are passed on to the children ‒ Exod. 20:5-6 individual responsibility ‒ Ezekiel 18 Our actions do have consequences in the lives of others.
2 Samuel 12:15-20
12:15b "the Lord struck the child" In the OT there is only one ultimate source and that is YHWH. There are no secondary causes in Israel's worldview. All acts are attributed to Him (cf. 2 Chr. 20:6; Eccl. 7:14; Isa. 14:24-27; 43:13; 45:7; 54:16; Jer. 18:11; Lam. 3:33-38; Amos 3:6). This is a very difficult verse to interpret theologically. This is not the norm; YHWH loves the children as much as the parents. It is true that the sins of the parents are transmitted to the children, as are the blessings, but this is usually interpreted as lifestyle priorities (cf. Exod. 20:5-6; Deut. 5:9-10). This verse causes us not to be too dogmatic in the relationship between sin and sickness within families. There is mystery here. We live in a fallen world. See note at 1 Sam. 25:38. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL SPECIAL TOPIC: HEALING 12:16-17 David grieved and prayed for the child. fasted (usually involved prayer) lay on the ground wore certain items of clothing DSS, LXX add "in sackcloth" Josephus, Antiq. 7.7.4, has "black garment" and "sackcloth" wept, vv. 21,22 see other items at 2 Sam. 13:31 SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES 12:20 When David's acts of mourning were over, he also performed certain acts that showed this. arose from the ground washed anointed himself put on regular clothing worshiped ate food
2 Samuel 12:21-23
12:22 "Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live" David was a man of faith. He had an OT worldview. There was always hope in YHWH's merciful character. Though believing humans do not know the future they know the One who controls the future. I do believe intercessory prayer can change situations. The mystery is why some circumstances are changed but not others. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: INTERCESSORY PRAYER 12:23 Whether David has a full blown understanding of the afterlife or not is uncertain, but it is obvious in reading the Psalms and the account of his life, that he trusted YHWH for the future, even with his dead child. I believe little ones who die go to be with the Lord. The grief and worry of parents can be seen in the doctrines of infant baptism and the age of accountability, both of which are biblically dubious. SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? SPECIAL TOPIC: THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY
2 Samuel 12:24-25
12:24-25 In the midst of judgment and death, God brings hope and mercy! The future king of Israel is born. ▣ "Jedidiah" The name (BDB 217) means "beloved of the Lord." Apparently David allowed the prophet Nathan to name this child (v. 25). The Peshitta has "she called him," which would denote Bathsheba. The verse is ambiguous. It could refer to the father David. Names were very important in Israel. They reflected the hope of the parents and family about the newly born child.
2 Samuel 12:26-31
12:26-31 The war with the capital city of the Ammonites (i.e., Rabbah) resulted in its capture and its people being dealt with violently. 12:30 "he" This must refer to Joab. ▣ NASB, NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta "their king" NRSV, NJB, REB "Milcom" "Molech" "Melchol" (Milcom)" I have included my notes from 1 Chr. 20:2: "1 Chr. 20:2 "their king" The same Hebrew consonants (BDB 572 I, cf. 2 Sam. 12:30) can also refer to the god, Milcom (BDB 575, cf. 1 Kgs. 11:5; Zeph. 1:5; LXX, Vulgate, NJB). The UBS Text Project gives "Milcom" a "B" rating (some doubt). In 1 Kgs. 11:7 another fertility god, Molech, is named. The Hebrew consonants MLK are the root of king Milcom Molech (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MOLECH)" The UBS Text Project, p. 233, gives Milcom a "C" rating (considerable doubt). "of their king" ‒ מלכם of Milcom ‒ consonants same as above (cf. 1 Kgs. 11:5) ▣ "talent" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES. 12:31 I have included my note from 1 Chr. 20:3. "1 Chr. 20:3 Ancient warfare was terrible and vindictive. Whole populations were killed in shocking ways or were taken into slavery (cf. 2 Sam. 12:31). It is possible that 2 Sam. 12:31 really refers to "putting them to work" in construction. But this is conjecture (cf. JPSOA footnote)." Notice the translation of JPSOA, "He led out the people who lived there and sent them to work with saws, iron threshing boards, anad iron axes, or assigned to brickmaking." ▣ "pass through the brickkiln" The VERB (BDB 716, KB 778, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) is used of human sacrifices to Molech. He was a fertility god worshiped by fire sacrifices of firstborn children. The "brickklin" (BDB 527) could refer to this fire offering. However, it must be asserted that the word "brickkiln" (BDB 527, KB 587) is uncertain. brick mold brick shaped brick fired SPECIAL TOPIC: MOLECH