2 Samuel 12:13-16

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 12:13

2 Samuel 12:13. David said—I have sinned— No sooner was the application of the parable made by Nathan, but David owns his offence; and the Psalms he penned on this occasion, shew the deep sense he had of the guilt he contracted, and will be a memorial of his repentance to all future ages. See especially the 51st Psalm. His unhesitating confession, I have sinned, short, but more expressive than all the parade of eloquence, darted, as God saw it was, from a contrite, softened, penetrated heart,... read more

Thomas Coke

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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 12:15

15-23. the Lord struck the child . . . and it was very sick—The first visible chastisement inflicted on David appeared on the person of that child which was the evidence and monument of his guilt. His domestics were surprised at his conduct, and in explanation of its singularity, it is necessary to remark that the custom in the East is to leave the nearest relative of a deceased person to the full and undisturbed indulgence of his grief, till on the third or fourth day at farthest ( :-). Then... 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 12:13

(13) I have sinned.—The same words were used by Saul (1 Samuel 15:24; 1 Samuel 15:30), but in a totally different spirit. Saul’s confession was a concession to the prophet for the purpose of securing his support, and with no real penitence; David, in these few words, pours out before God the confession of a broken heart.Thou shalt not die.—David had committed two crimes for which the Law imposed the penalty of death—adultery (Leviticus 20:10) and murder (Leviticus 24:17). As an absolute monarch... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 12:14

(14) Thou hast given great occasion.—Although David was forgiven, yet since his sin had brought great scandal on the church, it was necessary that he should suffer publicly the consequences of that sin. We can see that this was especially important in David’s case, both for the vindication of God’s justice, and to destroy the hope that other sins also might go unpunished; yet it is not to be forgotten that the effect of sin generally is similar. The far greater part of David’s sufferings were... 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

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 2 Samuel 12:13

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

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 12:15

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

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

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 12:13

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 2 Samuel 12:14

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

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

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

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