2 Samuel 12: Nathan's story of the ewe lamb, the child dies, and Solomon is born
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What happens?
Yahweh sends Nathan to David, and Nathan tells him of a rich man who took a poor man's only lamb to feed a traveler. David burns with anger and says the man deserves to die and must pay back the lamb four times over. Nathan says, "You are the man!", and gives Yahweh's message: Yahweh made David king and gave him his master's house and wives and the house of Israel and Judah, but David despised Yahweh's word, struck down Uriah and took his wife, so the sword will never leave his house, and his wives will be given to someone close to him, who will lie with them before all Israel. David says, "I have sinned against Yahweh", and Nathan says that Yahweh has put away his sin and he will not die, but the child born to him will die. Yahweh strikes the child and he falls sick. David pleads with God for the child, fasts and lies on the ground, the child dies on the seventh day, and David gets up, worships in Yahweh's house and eats. Bathsheba bears Solomon, whom Yahweh loves, and he is named Jedidiah through Nathan. Joab fights against Rabbah, calls David to take the city, and David takes it and the crown of their king (or: of Milcom), and sets its people to the saws, picks and axes and the brick kiln.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: in this chapter Yahweh's message comes through Nathan, who speaks it. Verse 1 says that Yahweh sent Nathan. Nathan tells David a story in verses 1 to 4, and David answers in verses 5 and 6. In verses 7 to 12 Nathan says "This is what Yahweh says" and gives Yahweh's message, in which Yahweh speaks as "I"; Nathan speaks those words, so they are not in gold. David says "I have sinned against Yahweh" in verse 13, and Nathan answers him in verses 13 and 14. David's servants speak in verses 18, 19 and 21, and David speaks in verses 19, 22 and 23; in verse 22 he tells what he said while the child was alive. Joab's message to David is in verses 27 and 28. Verses 15, 24 and 25, that Yahweh struck the child and loved Solomon, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Yahweh 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.
In plain English: Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.
Good to know: Nathan the prophet brought David Yahweh's word about the house in to . Verses 1 to 4 here are a story Nathan tells. David answers in anger against the rich man (verses 5 and 6), and in verse 7 Nathan says, "You are the man!"
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2The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
In plain English: The rich man had very many flocks and herds,
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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.
In plain English: but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and with his children. It ate from his own food (literally: his morsel), drank from his own cup and lay in his arms (literally: his bosom), and it was like a daughter to him.
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4A traveler 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.”
In plain English: A traveler came to the rich man, and he would not (literally: he spared to) take one of his own sheep or cattle to make a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead he took the poor man's lamb and made it ready for the man who had come to him."
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5David’s anger burned hot against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this deserves to die!
In plain English: David's anger burned hot against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who did this deserves to die (literally: is a son of death)!
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6He must restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity!”
In plain English: He must pay back the lamb four times over, because he did this thing and because he had no pity!"
Good to know: The law says that a man who steals a sheep and kills it or sells it "shall pay ... four sheep for a sheep" (). The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "seven-fold" here.
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7Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
In plain English: Nathan said to David, "You are the man! This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued (this Bible: delivered) you from the hand of Saul.
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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.
In plain English: I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms (literally: your bosom), and I gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if that had been too little, I would have given you much more as well (literally: added to you like these and like these).
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9Why have you despised Yahweh’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.
In plain English: Why have you despised Yahweh's word, by doing what is evil in his sight (or: in my sight)? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, you took his wife to be your wife, and you killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
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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.’
In plain English: So now the sword will never leave your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.'
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11“This is what Yahweh 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 neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
In plain English: This is what Yahweh says: 'Look, I will raise up evil (or: trouble) against you from your own house. I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor (or: someone close to you), and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight (literally: in the eyes of this sun).
The Hebrew word: "Neighbor" is rea, which the dictionary gives as "an associate (more or less close)".
Good to know: The text here does not name the man. In Absalom, David's son, goes in to his father's concubines on the roof "in the sight of all Israel".
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12For you did this secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.’”
In plain English: For you did it in secret, but I will do this thing before all Israel and in broad daylight (literally: before the sun).'"
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13David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.
In plain English: David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh." Nathan said to David, "Yahweh also has put away (literally: has made to pass) your sin. You will not die.
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14However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”
In plain English: But because by this deed you have given Yahweh's enemies great cause to scorn (literally: you have greatly scorned the enemies of Yahweh), the son (this Bible: child) who is born to you will also surely die."
The Hebrew words: "Given great occasion ... to blaspheme" is from na'ats, which the dictionary gives as "to scorn". Word for word the Hebrew says "you have surely scorned the enemies of Yahweh by this thing". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "thou hast given great occasion of provocation to the enemies of the Lord".
What changes: Read the way this Bible and the Greek have it, David's deed has given Yahweh's enemies cause to scorn. Read word for word, it is David who has shown scorn. Verses 9 and 10 say, with another word, that David "despised" Yahweh's word and Yahweh himself.
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15Then Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he was very sick.
In plain English: Then Nathan went home. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and he fell sick (this Bible: was very sick).
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16David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night on the ground.
In plain English: David pleaded with (this Bible: begged) God for the child. David fasted, and he went in and lay all night on the ground.
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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.
In plain English: The elders of his house stood beside him to raise him up from the ground, but he would not, and he did not eat food with them.
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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?”
In plain English: On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, because they said, "Look, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he would not listen to us (literally: to our voice). How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do harm (this Bible: harm himself)."
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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.”
In plain English: When David saw that his servants were whispering together, he understood that the child was dead. David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead."
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20Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into Yahweh’s house, and worshiped. Then he came to his own house; and when he requested, they set bread before him and he ate.
In plain English: Then David got up from the ground, washed, put oil on himself (this Bible: anointed himself) and changed his clothes. He went into Yahweh's house and worshiped (literally: bowed down). Then he went to his own house, and when he asked, they set food before him and he ate.
Good to know: No temple has been built yet. Yahweh's ark is in "the tent that David had pitched for it" (), and in Yahweh says that David's offspring will build a house for his name. The text does not say more about where David worshiped.
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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.”
In plain English: His servants said to him, "What is this you have done? While the child was alive you fasted and wept for him, but when the child died you got up and ate food."
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22He said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows whether Yahweh will not be gracious to me, that the child may live?’
In plain English: He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, because I said, 'Who knows? Yahweh may be gracious to me, and the child may live.'
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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.”
In plain English: But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not come back to me."
Good to know: The text does not explain "I will go to him". Read one way, David means that he too will die and go where the child has gone. Read another way, he means he will be with the child after death. Readers take it in different ways.
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24David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay with her. She bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Yahweh loved him;
In plain English: David comforted Bathsheba his wife. He went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son, and he (or: she) named him Solomon. Yahweh loved him,
The Hebrew words: "He named him" is "he named" as the Hebrew is written, and "she named" as it is read. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "he called his name Solomon".
Good to know: The text does not explain the name Solomon here. The dictionary gives it as "David's successor" and traces it to the word for peace, shalom. links it to peace: "his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days".
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25and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh’s sake.
In plain English: and he sent word by Nathan the prophet (literally: by the hand of Nathan; the Hebrew does not say who sent), and he named him Jedidiah, for Yahweh's sake (or: because of Yahweh).
The Hebrew word: Jedidiah is yedidyah, a name made of yedid, which the dictionary gives as "loved", and Yah, "Jah, the sacred name", the short form of Yahweh. So the name means "beloved of Yahweh" (or: "loved by Yahweh"). This is the only verse in the Bible that uses it.
What changes: The Hebrew says only "he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet, and he called his name Jedidiah". Read one way, Yahweh, who "loved him" in verse 24, sent word by Nathan and gave the child this name. Read another way, David sent word by Nathan. "For Yahweh's sake" can also be read "because of Yahweh", that is, because Yahweh loved him.
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26Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
In plain English: Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal city.
Good to know: Rabbah was being besieged in . Verse 26 says Joab "took the royal city", in verse 27 he says he has taken "the city of waters", and in verse 29 David takes the city. The text does not say how these parts of Rabbah fit together.
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27Joab sent messengers to David, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah. Yes, I have taken the city of waters.
In plain English: Joab sent messengers to David and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, and I have also captured the city of waters.
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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.”
In plain English: So now gather the rest of the people, camp against the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be called by my name (literally: my name will be called over it)."
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29David gathered all the people together and went to Rabbah, and fought against it and took it.
In plain English: So David gathered all the people, went to Rabbah, fought against it and captured it.
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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.
In plain English: He took the crown of their king (or: of Milcom) from his head. Its weight was a talent of gold, and it had a precious stone (this Bible: precious stones) in it, and it was set on David's head. He brought a great amount of plunder out of the city.
The Hebrew word: "Their king" is malkam. The same Hebrew letters are the name of Malcam or Milcom, which the dictionary gives as "the national idol of the Ammonites" (: "Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites"). The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has both: "the crown of Molchom their king".
What changes: Read as "their king", David took the crown of the king of the Ammonites. Read as "Milcom", he took the crown of Milcom, their god. , which tells the same, has the same word.
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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.
In plain English: He brought out the people who were in it and set them to the saws, the iron picks (or: threshing sledges) and the iron axes (this Bible: put them to work under saws), and made them pass through (this Bible: go to) the brick kiln. He did this to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people went back to Jerusalem.
The Hebrew words: Word for word the Hebrew says David "set them in the saw, and in the picks of iron, and in the axes of iron, and made them pass in the brick kiln". "Picks" is charits, which the dictionary gives as "a threshing-sledge (with sharp teeth)".
What changes: Read the way this Bible has it, David put the people to work with saws, picks and axes and at the brick kilns. Read another way, he killed them with these tools. , which tells the same, says he "had them cut with saws, with iron picks, and with axes". The text does not say more.
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