2 Samuel 12:1-4 NIV

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:1

There were two men in one city - See a discourse on fables at the end of Judges 9:56 ; (note), and a discourse on parabolic writing at the end of the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. There is nothing in this parable that requires illustration; its bent is evident; and it was construed to make David, unwittingly, pass sentence on himself. It was in David's hand, what his own letters were in the hands of the brave but unfortunate Uriah. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:3

And lay in his bosom - This can only mean that this lamb was what we call a pet or favourite in the family, else the circumstance would be very unnatural, and most likely would have prevented David from making the application which he did, as otherwise it would have appeared absurd. It is the only part of this parable which is at variance with nature and fact. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1

EXPOSITION Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. Though David had remained unrepentant for nearly a year, for we read in 2 Samuel 12:14 that the child was born, yet we are not to suppose that there had been no compunctions of conscience. A man could scarcely pass from utter callousness to a state of mind so tender as that depicted in Psalms 51:1-19 without some preparation. Assuredly David had suffered much mental distress, but he had given no outward sign of contrition, and possibly,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1

( JERUSALEM .) A faithful reprover of sin. "And Jehovah sent Nathan to David." The sin Of David could not be hid. It was known to his servants ( 2 Samuel 11:4 ) and to Joab; it must have been surmised by many from his hasty marriage; and now it was fully manifest ( 2 Samuel 11:27 ). About a year had elapsed. "What a year for David to have spent! What a joyless, sunless, godless year! Were God's words still sweet to his taste? Were they still the rejoicing of his heart? or had he... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1-4

( THE KING 'S PALACE .) The parable of the rich oppressor; or, the poor man's lamb. 1 . This is the first and almost the only parable contained in the Old Testament. There is one instance of a fable of earlier date ( 9:8-15 ). The former belongs to a higher order of teaching than the latter (Smith's 'Dict. of the Bible,' art. "Fable;" Trench, 'Notes on the Parables'); and it was employed most perfectly by the great Teacher. Compare his parables of the unmerciful servant,... read more

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

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

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

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

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1-4

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