2 Samuel 12:16 NLT,NIV,ESV

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 12:16

2 Samuel 12:16. David therefore besought God for the child— It may be thought surprising to see so wise a man as David fasting and mourning in this extraordinary manner for a child, who, being yet an infant, could not possibly have been endeared to him by any of those blandishments which so strongly fix the parental affections to their offspring; and who must moreover, if he should live, be a perpetual brand of infamy upon his parents. The true way of accounting for it is by ascribing it, as Le... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 2 Samuel 12:15-25

The death of one child and the birth of another 12:15b-25Why did God take the life of this child since its parents sinned?"That the child should be punished for what David did seems wrong. We need to remind ourselves, however, that even today innocent children suffer from the things their parents do. The more pointed question deals with whether God should be credited with the cause of the suffering. I once sat at the funeral of a child who had been accidentally killed by a drunk man riding... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:1-31

David’s Repentance and Pardon. The Capture of Rabbah4. To dress for the wayfaring man] We may notice Eastern ideas of hospitality: cp. Genesis 18:3-5. 5. Shall surely die] David’s impulsive temper breaks out again: cp. 1 Samuel 25:22.11. For the fulfilment of this threat, see 2 Samuel 16:21, 2 Samuel 16:22. David’s repentance secured the forgiveness of God, but it did not avert the punishment of his sin. 13. Thou shalt not die] This was the punishment David himself had pronounced on the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 12:16

(16) Besought God for the child.—It can hardly be necessary to say that this does not imply any want of submissiveness to God’s will on David’s part, nor an inordinate love for the child of his guilt. “In the case of a man whose penitence was so earnest and so deep, the prayer for the preservation of his child must have sprung from some other source than excessive love of any created object. His great desire was to avert the stroke as a sign of the wrath of God, in the hope that he might be... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 2 Samuel 12:1-31

Nathan and David 2 Samuel 12:7 Holy Scripture leaves us in no manner of doubt as to the general character of David (1 Samuel 13:14 ). So that we cannot doubt of David's favour and acceptance with God before he sinned so grievously. Moreover, his own writings have come down to us as witness of his affection towards God; his Psalms say plainly what his mind must have been, for we still use them, as they have ever been used in the Church of God both by Jews and Christians, as the best expression... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:13-25

CHAPTER XVI.PENITENCE AND CHASTISEMENT.2 Samuel 12:13-25.WHEN Nathan ended his message, plainly and strongly though he had spoken, David indicated no irritation, made no complaint against the prophet, but simply and humbly confessed - "I have sinned." It is so common for men to be offended when a servant of God remonstrates with them, and to impute their interference to an unworthy motive, and to the desire of someone to hurt and humiliate them, that it is refreshing to find a great king... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Samuel 12:1-31

2. The Message of God and David’s Confession and the Beginning of the Chastisement CHAPTER 12 1. The Lord’s message through Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1-4 ) 2. David’s anger (2 Samuel 12:5-6 ) 3. Thou art the man! (2 Samuel 12:7-9 ) 4. The chastisement (2 Samuel 12:10-12 ) 5. David’s confession (2 Samuel 12:13 ) 6. The death of the child announced (2 Samuel 12:14 ) 7. The death of the child and David’s grief (2 Samuel 12:15-23 ) 8. Solomon born (2 Samuel 12:24-25 ) 9. Rabbah taken... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 2 Samuel 12:16

12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and {i} went in, and lay all night upon the earth.(i) That is, to his private chamber. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:1-31

David did not immediately confess his sin to God, andPsalms 32:3-4; Psalms 32:3-4 shows that the Lord waited for some time at least before sending the prophet Nathan to him, likely over nine months, for a son had been born to Bathsheba. He was giving David opportunity to voluntarily confess his sin, and in that time, as David says, "day and night" God's hand was heavy upon him. How could his conscience have any rest? The misery of this experience continued until God finally sent Nathan to him... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1-31

DAVID ’S GREAT SIN GOD’S ESTIMATE OF DAVID’S SIN (2 Samuel 12:1-14 ) Why the incident in this lesson should be designated “David’s great sin,” when he committed so many which the popular mind might consider more serious, can only be answered by the divine estimate of it. Jehovah regarded nothing David had done as comparable in its iniquity with this. Nathan’s address to David shows this, the chastisement that followed David through the rest of his life shows it, and David’s own feelings... read more