Ch 12 / 24~5 min
Shmuel Bet

Chapter 12

Nathan's Word Pierces the Hardened Heart

Nathan confronting David — 'You are the man' — and David's genuine repentance point to Yeshua as both the prophet who exposes sin and the redeemer who removes the guilt.

  1. Nathan Confronts David

    Nathan tells David a parable that pierces his heart: you are the man. Elohim sends truth-tellers to those He loves most.

  2. 1YHWH sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor.
  3. 2The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
  4. 3but the poor man had nothing, except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up together with him and with his children. It ate of his own food, drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.
  5. 4A traveller came to the rich man, and he didn’t want to take of his own flock and of his own herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
  6. 5David’s anger burnt hot against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As YHWH lives, the man who has done this deserves to die!
  7. 6He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity!”
  8. 7Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what YHWH, the Elohim of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
  9. 8I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that would have been too little, I would have added to you many more such things.
  10. 9Why have you despised YHWH’s word, to do that which is evil in his sight? You have struck Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
  11. 10Now therefore the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken Uriah the Hittite’s wife to be your wife.’
  12. 11This is what YHWH says: ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbour, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
  13. 12For you did this secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’”
  14. David Repents and the Child Dies

    David repents immediately and Elohim forgives, but the child dies. Grace removes guilt, yet consequences often remain as teachers.

  15. 13David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against YHWH.” Nathan said to David, “YHWH also has put away your sin. You will not die.
  16. 14However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to YHWH’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”
  17. 15Then Nathan departed to his house. YHWH struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he was very sick.
  18. 16David therefore begged Elohim for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground.
  19. 17The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them.
  20. 18On the seventh day, the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him and he didn’t listen to our voice. How will he then harm himself if we tell him that the child is dead?”
  21. 19But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”
  22. 20Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into YHWH’s house, and worshipped. Then he came to his own house; and when he requested, they set bread before him and he ate.
  23. 21Then his servants said to him, “What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child was dead, you rose up and ate bread.”
  24. 22He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether YHWH will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
  25. 23But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
  26. Solomon Is Born

    Solomon is born to David and Bathsheba, and Elohim loves him. From the ashes of sin, the Father brings forth blessing and purpose.

  27. 24David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her. She bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. YHWH loved him;
  28. 25and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah, for YHWH’s sake.
  29. 26Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
  30. 27Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah. Yes, I have taken the city of waters.
  31. 28Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called by my name.”
  32. 29David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it.
  33. 30He took the crown of their king from off his head; and its weight was a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones; and it was set on David’s head. He brought a great quantity of plunder out of the city.
  34. 31He brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work under saws, under iron picks, under axes of iron, and made them go to the brick kiln; and he did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
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