2 Samuel 12:7-9

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 12:7

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:9

Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight ?.... The commandment referred to is the law of God, particularly the sixth and seventh precepts of it, Exodus 20:13 ; which David had shown no regard unto, and by his breaking them had slighted and despised them: thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword ; and so had despised and broken the sixth command, Exodus 20:13 ; for though he had not taken away his life with his own hand, he had plotted... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:7

Thou art the man - What a terrible word! And by it David appears to have been transfixed, and brought into the dust before the messenger of God. Thou Art this son of death, and thou shalt restore this lamb Fourfold. It is indulging fancy too much to say David was called, in the course of a just Providence to pay this fourfold debt? to lose four sons by untimely deaths, viz., this son of Bath-sheba, on whom David had set his heart, was slain by the Lord; Amnon, murdered by his brother... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:8

Thy master ' s wives into thy bosom - Perhaps this means no more than that he had given him absolute power over every thing possessed by Saul; and as it was the custom for the new king to succeed even to the wives and concubines, the whole harem of the deceased king, so it was in this case; and the possession of the wives was a sure proof that he had got all regal rights. But could David, as the son-in-law of Saul, take the wives of his father-in-law? However, we find delicacy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 12:9

Thou hast killed Uriah - Thou art the Murderer, as having planned his death; the sword of the Ammonites was Thy instrument only. 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 12:5-7

Unconscious self-condemnation. Great sinners are generally able to discern and condemn in others wickedness similar to their own. This gives an advantage to those who would convince them of their sins. Nathan made use of it in dealing with David, and with good effect. I. NATHAN 'S PARABLE . It presents a picture of conduct sufficiently like that of David to prepare the way for his self-condemnation, and yet so far different that its drift should not be at once detected. It is a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:7

Thou art the man! Abruptly and with sudden vehemence comes the application to David himself. So skilfully had the parable been contrived, that up to this point David had had no suspicion that he was the rich man who had acted so meanly by his poorer neighbour Uriah. And now he stood self-condemned. Yet even so self-love might have made his indignation break forth against Nathan; but probably the reproof only completed a work that had long been secretly in progress, and brushed away the last... read more

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