2 Samuel 12:15-25
New American Standard Bible
15 Then Nathan went to his house.
Loss of a Child
Later the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s [a]widow bore to David, so that he was very sick. 16 David therefore pleaded with God for the child; and David (A)fasted and went and (B)lay all night on the ground. 17 (C)The elders of his household stood beside him in order to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat food with them. 18 Then it happened on the seventh day that the child died. And David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was still alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to [b]us. How then can we tell him that the child is dead, since he might do himself harm?” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.” 20 So David got up from the ground, (D)washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and (E)worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and when he asked, they served him food, and he ate.
21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was [c]alive; but when the child died, you got up and ate food.” 22 And he said, “While the child was still alive, (F)I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘(G)Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, and the child may live.’ 23 But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? (H)I am going to him, but (I)he will not return to me.”
Solomon Born
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and went in to her and slept with her; and she gave birth to a son, and [d](J)he named him Solomon. Now the Lord loved him, 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet, and he named him [e]Jedidiah for the Lord’s sake.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 12:15 Lit wife
- 2 Samuel 12:18 Lit our voice
- 2 Samuel 12:21 Some ancient versions still alive
- 2 Samuel 12:24 Some mss she
- 2 Samuel 12:25 I.e., beloved of the Lord
2 Samuel 12:15-25
International Standard Version
15 Then Nathan went home.
David’s Infant Son Dies
After this, the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife had born to David, and the child[a] became very ill. 16 David begged God on behalf of the youngster. He[b] fasted, went inside, and spent the night lying on the ground. 17 His closest advisors at the palace[c] got up, remained with him, and tried to help him get up from the ground, but he would not do so. He also wouldn’t eat with them.
18 A week later, the child died, and David’s staff was afraid to tell him that the child had died. They were telling themselves, “Look, when the child was still alive, we talked to him but he wouldn’t listen to what we said. Now what kind of trouble will he bring on himself if we tell him that the child has died?”
19 But as David observed his staff whispering together, he perceived that the child had died, so he asked his staff, “Is the child dead?”
They replied, “He has died.”
20 At this, David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the Lord’s tent[d] to worship. Then he went back to his palace where, at his request, they served him food and he ate.
21 His staff asked him, “What’s this about? When the child was alive, you fasted and cried. Now that the child has died, you get up and eat!”
22 He answered, “When the child was alive, I fasted and cried. I asked myself, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will show grace to me and the child will live.’ 23 But now that he has died, what’s the point of fasting? Can I bring him back again? I’ll be going to be with him, but he won’t be returning to me.”
The Birth of Solomon
24 Then David consoled his wife Bathsheba. He went in and had sex with her, and she bore a son whom he named Solomon. The Lord loved him, 25 and sent a message written by Nathan the prophet to call his name Jedidiah,[e] for the Lord’s sake.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 12:15 Lit. and he
- 2 Samuel 12:16 Lit. David
- 2 Samuel 12:17 Lit. The elders of the house
- 2 Samuel 12:20 Lit. house
- 2 Samuel 12:25 The Heb. name Jedidiah means loved by the Lord
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