2 Samuel 12:24-31

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:26-31

We have here an account of the conquest of Rabbah, and other cities of the Ammonites. Though this comes in here after the birth of David's child, yet it is most probable that it was effected a good while before, and soon after the death of Uriah, perhaps during the days of Bath-sheba's mourning for him. Observe, 1. That God was very gracious in giving David this great success against his enemies, notwithstanding the sin he had been guilty of just at that time when he was engaged in this war,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:24

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife ,.... Which is the first time she is so called, Uriah being dead, and David having married her; which though at first displeasing to the Lord, because the circumstances attending it, was afterwards confirmed by him. Bathsheba no doubt was very much distressed, and greatly disconsolate, on account of the sin she had committed, and because of the wrath and displeasure of God, and because of the death of the child, which was a token of it; and she might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:25

And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet ,.... Either David did; he sent by him to Bathsheba, to acquaint her with the name of the child, that it was to be Solomon; which is not so likely: or "he, David, delivered it into the hand of Nathan the prophet"; to educate it, instruct it, and bring it up in the nurture of the Lord; or rather the Lord sent a message by Nathan the prophet to David, that he loved Solomon: and he called his name Jedidiah, because of the Lord : that is, David... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:26

And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon ,.... Of his being sent against it, and of his besieging it, we read in 2 Samuel 11:1 ; but it can hardly be thought that he had been so long besieging it, as that David had two children by Bathsheba; but the account of the finishing of it is placed here, that the story concerning Bathsheba might lie together without any interruption: and took the royal city ; or that part of it in which the king's palace was, and which, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:27

And Joab sent messengers to David ,.... To acquaint him how he had proceeded, and what success he had had: and said, I have fought against Rabbah ; laid siege to it, and skirmished with parties that sallied out upon them: and have taken the city of waters ; the same with the royal city, and so the Targum here renders it; so called because situated by the waterside; Adrichomius says F24 Theatrum T. S. p. 34. the river Jabbok flowed round about it: or it abounded with fountains... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:28

Now therefore gather the rest of the people together ,.... The rest of the soldiers in the land of Israel, and come to Rabbah: and encamp against the city ; invest it in form: and take it ; upon a surrender or by storm; for it could not hold out long: lest I take the city, and it be called after my name ; so great a regard had Joab, though an ambitious man, to the fame and credit of David his king: so Craterus F1 Curt. Hist. l. 6. c. 6. at the siege of Artacacna, being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:29

And David gathered all the people together ,.... The soldiers that were with him, or near him; which was done partly to recruit Joab's troops, who, by the continuance of the siege, and the sallies of the enemy on them, might be greatly diminished; and partly to make conquests of other cities of the Ammonites, and to carry off the spoil of them: and went to Rabbah ; which must be after the death of Uriah, and very probably during the time of Bathsheba's mourning for him: and fought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:30

And he took their king's crown from off his head ,.... The crown of Hanun the king of the Ammonites, who now fell into his hands, and whom he stripped of his ensigns of royalty, who had so shamefully abused his ambassadors, 2 Samuel 10:4 , (the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones) : or, "and a precious stone"; there might be more, as our version suggests, but there was one in it remarkably large and valuable; Josephus F2 Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 7. c. 7.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 12:31

And he brought forth the people that were therein ,.... Not all the inhabitants of the place, but the princes of the children of Ammon, the counsellors of Hattun, who advised him to use David's ambassadors in so shameful a manner, and others that expressed their pleasure and satisfaction in it: and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron ; whereby they were cut asunder, as some were by the Romans and others F14 Suetonius in Vita Caii, c. 27. Vid.... read more

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