2 Samuel 12:1-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1-14

It seems to have been a great while after David had been guilty of adultery with Bath-sheba before he was brought to repentance for it. For, when Nathan was sent to him, the child was born (2 Sam. 12:14), so that it was about nine months that David lay under the guilt of that sin, and, for aught that appears, unrepented of. What shall we think of David's state all this while? Can we imagine that his heart never smote him for it, or that he never lamented it in secret before God? I would... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:15-25

Nathan, having delivered his message, staid not at court, but went home, probably to pray for David, to whom he had been preaching. God, in making use of him as an instrument to bring David to repentance, and as the herald both of mercy and judgment, put an honour upon the ministry, and magnified his word above all his name. David named one of his sons by Bath-sheba Nathan, in honour of this prophet (1 Chron. 3:5), and it was that son of whom Christ, the great prophet, lineally descended, Luke... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1

And the Lord sent Nathan unto David ,.... Quickly after the child was born begotten on Bathsheba, and when it was known and became the public talk of people, and the enemies of religion were full of it, and blasphemed on account of it, 2 Samuel 12:14 ; so that David was nine months or more without any true sense of his sin, his heart hardened, his graces dormant, the joys of salvation taken from him, and he without any communion with God, and having little concern about it; though perhaps... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:2

The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds. In which the wealth of men lay in those times and countries; these in the parable signify David's wives and concubines, which were many; he had six wives in Hebron, and he took more wives and concubines out of Jerusalem, when he was come from Hebron, 2 Samuel 3:2 ; and besides his master's, or Saul's wives, given to him, 2 Samuel 12:8 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:3

But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb ,.... Uriah had but one wife, who was much younger than he, called a lamb, an ewe lamb, a little one. Abarbinel thinks Uriah had been a widower; and had children by another wife, supposed in the parable, and was much older than Bathsheba: which he had bought ; for men in those times and countries did not receive portions with their wives, but gave dowries to them, and for them: and nourished up ; as his own flesh, as husbands... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:4

And there came a traveller unto the rich man ,.... By which some understand Satan, who came to David, and stirred up his lust by the temptations that offered; who is a walker, as the word used signifies, that goes about seeking whom he may devour, and is with good men only as a wayfaring man, who does not abide with them; and whose temptations, when they succeed with such, are as meat and drink to him, very entertaining but the Jews generally understand it of the evil imagination or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:5

And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man ,.... That had done this, taking it for a real fact: and he said to Nathan, as the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die ; which be said in the transport of his wrath and fury; otherwise a thief, according to the law of Moses, was not to be put to death, but to make restitution; and if he was not able to make it, then to be sold, but he was not to die for it; but David thought the crime was so greatly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:6

And he shall restore the lamb fourfold ,.... Which was according to the law in Exodus 22:1 ; but Kimchi thinks, because the word is of the dual number, it signifies double the number, and that the sentence was to restore eight lambs, because he being a rich man stole from the poor man; so Mr. Weemse F19 Of the Moral Law, l. 2. ch. 10. p. 252. Vid. Gusset. Ebr. Comment. p. 776. renders it, twice four, twice as much as was commanded in the law; for the Hebrews, he observes, double in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:7

And Nathan said to David, thou art the man ,.... The rich man, or who is designed by him in the parable, and answers to him F20 "----- mutato nomine, de te Fabula narratur -----". Horat. Sermon. l. 1. Satyr. 1. ver. 69,70. : thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel ; that is, ordered Samuel to anoint him, who did, 1 Samuel 16:1 ; to which this chiefly refers; and after that he was anointed first by the tribe of Judah, and then by all the tribes of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:8

And I gave thee thy master's house ,.... Not his palace at Gibeah, but rather his family, his wives, servants, wealth, and riches, all being confiscated through the rebellion of Ishbosheth; or rather his kingdom he succeeded him in: and thy master's wives into thy bosom ; though we read of no more than one that belonged to Saul, if he is meant by his master, excepting Rizpah his concubine, nor ever of David taking them into his bosom and bed; wherefore this can be understood only of his... read more

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