2 Samuel 12:13

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 12:13

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord ,.... Which confession, though short, was a full one, arising from a thorough conviction of the evil of the sin he had been guilty of, accompanied with real brokenness of heart, sincere humiliation, and a sorrow after a godly sort, as the fifty first psalm, that penitential psalm composed upon this occasion shows, Psalm 51:1 , and Nathan said unto David ; being fully satisfied with the sincerity and genuineness of his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:13

The Lord - hath put away thy sin - Many have supposed that David's sin was now actually pardoned, but this is perfectly erroneous; David, as an adulterer, was condemned to death by the law of God; and he had according to that law passed sentence of death upon himself. God alone, whose law that was could revoke that sentence, or dispense with its execution; therefore Nathan, who had charged the guilt home upon his conscience, is authorized to give him the assurance that he should... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:1-14

The facts are: 1. God sends Nathan the prophet to David, who tells him a story of the greed of a wicked rich man, who, to satisfy his avarice, took away and slew the pot ewe lamb of a poor man. 2 . David, accepting the story as a matter of fact, is very angry with this man, and swears that for his deed and lack of compassion he ought to die and restore fourfold. 3 . Nathan thereupon reveals the parabolic character of his narrative, by saying unto David, "Thou art the man !" 4 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:13

I have sinned against Jehovah. Saul had used the same words, and had meant very little by them; nor had he added "against Jehovah," because his purpose was to appease Samuel, and prevail upon him not to disgrace him before the people. David's confession came from the heart. There is no excuse making, no attempt at lessening his fault, no desire to evade punishment. Psalms 51:1-19 is the lasting testimony, not only to the reality, but to the tenderness of his repentance, and we may even... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:13

( THE PALACE .) The acknowledgment of sin. "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord." 1 . The words of the prophet were a decisive test of the character of David. Had he treated the messenger and his message as others have done ( 1 Samuel 15:12-21 ; 1 Kings 13:4 ; 1 Kings 21:20 ; 1 Kings 22:8 ; Jeremiah 36:23 ; Luke 3:10 ; Acts 24:25 ), his partial blindness to his sin would have become total, and he would have fallen to a still lower depth,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:13

( THE PALACE .) The forgiveness of sin. "And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." "The absolver saw the mighty grief, And hastened with relief;— 'The Lord forgives; thou shalt not die' 'Twas gently spoke, yet heard on high, And all the band of angels, us'd to sing In heaven, accordant to his raptured string, Who many a month had turned away With veiled eyes, nor own'd his lay, "Now spread their wings and throng around ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:13

Confession and pardon. Two things are very surprising in this narrative—the awful wickedness of David, and the abounding mercy of God. I. DAVID 'S CONFESSION . It was: 1 . Very prompt. The prophet's address awakened no resentment. There was no attempt at evasion, palliation, or self-justification. How could there be? He at once acknowledged his sin. This was the result, not only of Nathan's faithful reproof, but of the king's own previous mental exercises. The time which had... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 12:13

For a comment on David’s words, read Psalms 51:0; Psalms 32:1-11.Thou shalt not die - Not spoken of the punishment of death as affixed to adultery by the Mosaic Law: the application of that law Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; John 8:5 to an absolute Eastern monarch was out of the question. The death of the soul is meant (compare Ezekiel 18:4, Ezekiel 18:13, Ezekiel 18:18). read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 12:13

2 Samuel 12:13. David said, I have sinned against the Lord Overwhelmed with shame, stung with remorse, and oppressed with a dreadful sense of the divine vengeance, impending, and ready to fall upon himself and his family, he could only give utterance to this short confession. How sincere and serious it was, what a deep sense he now had of his guilt, and from what a softened, penetrated, broken, and contrite heart, his acknowledgment proceeded, we may see in the psalms he penned on this... read more

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