2 Samuel 12

Vcr. 19. And when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead.* He guessed what the matter was. Therefore David said tinto his servants $ Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.] They would not acquaint him with it abruptly, for fear he should fall into too great a passion.

2 Samuel 12:1

Jl^ND the Lord’ sent Nathan unto David.) To awaken him out of his sleep, and give him a sight of his sins. And he came tinto him, and said unto him,, TJiere were two men in one city; the one rich, and the otJierpoor.) This was a prudent and respectful way of awakening David by* an apposite parable: which was so managed, that the prophet did not condemn David, but made him condemn himself. And many have very pertinently observed from hence, that there is never more use of wisdom and discretion than in the contrivance of reprehension: especially of princes and great persons, whom the ministers of Christ ought to admonish and reprove in an humble and reverend representation of their sins to them, not with rude exprobations of them, and declamations against them. It is not necessary to apply every word of this parable to David’s case (as the beginning of it is exactly fitted), because in parables several things are added, which serve only to make them decorous and handsome. Yet Abarbinel (as I shall shewin the conclusion of it) hath endeavoured to give an account of every part of it.

2 Samuel 12:2

And the rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds.) As David had many wives and concubines, with which he might have been well satisfied.

2 Samuel 12:3

But the poor man had nothing, save only one little eive-lamb.) Perhaps Uriah had only one wife, with whom he contented himself, or rather was highly pleased, she being mild and gentle as a lamb. Which he had bought, andnourished up.) They frequently purchased their wives in those days; giving to their parents a sum of money for them. (See Selden, lib. ii. de Uxore Hebr. cap. 20.) And it grew up together with him, and with his children: it did cat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.) That is, was exceeding dear to him, and beloved by him. This is a resemblance not unlike the truth, unto those who understand how fond many persons were anciently, not only of lambs, but of several other creatures, which they suffered to eat with them at their tables, and to lie with them in their beds, as Bochart shews in his Hicroz. par. i. lib. ii. cap. 43.

2 Samuel 12:4

And there came a traveller to ihe rich man.~. This may be applied to David’s straggling affection, which ho suffered to wahder from his own home, and to covet an^ other man’s wife. The Jewish doctors say it represents that which they call jetzer hara, the evil disposition, or desire that is in us, which must be diligently watched and observed when we feel its motions. For they have this ingenious observation concerning it, in Bercschith Rabba and other books: * In the beginning it is but a traveller; but in time it becomes a guest; and in conclusion, is the master of the house." For he, say they, who is called a traveller in the beginning of this verse, is called isch, a man, in the conclusion of it. And he spared to take of his own flock, and his own herd, Microsoft ® 2 x 2 33G A COMMENTARY UPON [chap. XII. to dress for the way-faring man that was come to him.] Wherewith he might have satisfied his appetite. But took the poor, mail’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.’] He touches not in this parable upon the murder, for that was committed to cover the adultery, which led the way to the other crime. And Abarbinel gives a reason why it is not mentioned in his explication of the parable: which is this:— The rich man, saith he, plainly signifies David; his flocks and herds, David’s wives and concubines: the poor man represents Uriah, who, he thinks, was a widower, and had several children alive by a former wife, when he married Bathsheba. Whom he compares to a lamb which he bought, because he solemnly espoused her; and with tender affection be cherished her, and she grew up, with him, and with his children, which he had by.his former wife. This lamb being taken by the rich man from the poor,, to gratify a wanton appetite, signifies David’s taking Bath-sheba and lying with her. And it would have.made the resemblance more complete, if he had added, that the rich man killed the poor’man, from whom he took the lamb. But thisjs omitted, Abarbinel thinks, in the parable, that David might not readily apprehend Nathan’s meaning; and so be induced unawares to pronounce a sentence of condemnation upon himself. And then he had a fixed opportunity to shew him, that if the rich man who took away, the^ poor man’s lamb deserved death,., according to his own judgment, how much more did he deserve it, who had not only taken another man’s wife, but also caused him to,be slain by the enemies of Israel?. i j

2 Samuel 12:5

" And David’s anger ^was greatly kindled against the man;- and he said, As the Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die. . Punishments sometimes extended beyond the law, because of the great atro T city of the crime..,,.-. • • Ver. G..And he shall restore the lamb fotirfold.] h This was agreeable to the law, (Expd. xxii. 1.) * Because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.] Because he took away the lamb, he condemned him to make restitution fourfold: and because he had no pity (it being his only lamb), he condemned him to die. Kimchi will have it, that the word signifies twice fourfold; because it is in their dual number: so that this punishment also is beyond the law. But all the ancient interpreters are against him. But the Jews hero observe that these words were ominous: so many of David’s sons perishing, as he said the rich man should restore lambs, viz. the child he had by Bath-sheba, Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah. (See Bochartus, in his Hieroz. par. i, lib. ii. cap. 40.), -Ver. 7. And Nathan said unto David, Thou art the man.] Who had pronounced a dreadful sentence against himself. Though reproofs of men in authority are to be managed yery mannerly, as to the form wherein they are delivered; yet as to the matter they are to be plain and downright, so that they may be made sensible of their guilt.. TIius saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and delivered thee out’ of the hand of Saul.’] Who sougHt to hinder his advancement to the kingdom,,by destroying him.’ Thus he aggravates David’s sin, from the obligations he had to God:’ who had preferred him to the highest dignity, when he was in a low, and sometimes a desperate condition. - - Digitized by

2 Samuel 12:8

And I gave thee thy master’s house. llis kingdom. … And thy master’s wives into thy bosom.] For the wives of a king went along with his lands and goods unto his successor: it being unlawful for thewidow of a king to be wife to any but a king; as appears by the story of Adonijah. But this doth not signify that David married any of them; but only that they.were delivered into his possession, as all other things belonging unto Saul were. So Maimonides: and more than this, the Jewish doctors say, no subject might have so much as the. horse of the king, no more than his sceptre and crown: much less his widow, or one divorced by him, who.was to remain a widow to the day. of her death. So the same Maimonides: The wife of a king is to be married to’ none else; for even the king cannot legally marry the. widow of, his predecessor, or one divorced by him. (See Selden, lib. i. de Uxore Ilebr. cap. 10. and Carpzbvius upon Schickard’s Jus Regium, p..441.) But. there are, those, who, to avoid all controversy about this matter, interpret the word nase, not wives, but mere women, belonging unto Saul. Arid gave thee the house of Israel and ofJudah.] Dominion, over all.the twelve tribes. And if that had been too little, I would moreover have given thee such and such things.] He need but have asked, and.God would have given him all that he could reasonably desire: but. he ought’not to have taken what’ he pleased himself.. The Jews refer this to the wives he would have given him: and gather from hence, that their king might have eighteen wives, and no more..’(See tfpon Deut. xyii. 17.) But it is evident these words, such and such things, do not signify a* certain number of any thing, but indefinitely other. benefits of any kind: as’Thebd. Hackspan. observes.out of many like places/particularly Isa. vii. 20. (See his Disput. 4. n. 3.). A r er. 9.. Wherefore, hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight?] These words, and David’s own confession, (ver. 13.) might have ashamed the Talmudists, one would’ think, from framing excuses for David’s sin, and absolving him from any guilt. Bartoloccius hath given a large.account of.their lewd prevarication in this matter, in his Kirjath-sepher, torn. ii. p. 102, 103, &c. TJiou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sWord.] For he contrived his death, which was as bad as if he had killed him himself. * And hast taken his wife to be thy wife.] After he had first committed adultery with her., • A,nd hast slain him with the sivord of the children of Amnion.] This highly aggravated his crime, as Abarbinel observes; that he caused him to be slain by the. professed enemies of God; who triumphed in the slaughter of so great a man; * And in this, Laniado himself confesses David sinned, though in nothing else.

2 Samuel 12:10

Now therefore the stuo7*tl shall never depart from thine house. - That is, t as long as he lived there should be slaughters in his family. Which was fulfilled in the violent death of his children, Amnon, and Absalom, and (about the time of his death) Adonijah. Because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.] Which, it appears by this repetition, was a very great offence, but not greater than^ his adultery/ as ProcopiusGazoeus thinks it was, Microsoft ® CHAP. XII.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. “- Ver. 11^ Thus saitlt the Lord, Behold, I will raise up ei)il against thee out of thine own house.] That is, his’ own family: which was notoriously fulfilled in Absalom’s conspiracy against him. • And I tvill take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.] For Absalom had a tent spread in the house-top, and there went in unto them, (xvi. 21, 22.) Which is said to be done before David’s eyes, because, though he did not see it, yet it was done so publicly that he could not but know it, and yet was not able to hinder it.

2 Samuel 12:12

For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun J. For it was notorious to all how David fled in haste from his son, and left his concubines behind him, (xv. 14 — 16.)

2 Samuel 12:13

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. This confession was made in a few words; but, no doubt, with many sobs and great grief, compunction arid contrition of heart. And Nathan said unto David.] Not presently, but after he had bewailed his sin so bitterly that his repentance appeared to be hearty. The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.] He was guilty of death upon a double account, as an adulterer and as a murderer/ as Procopius Gazaeus observes. But upon his repentance the prophet pronounces an absolution to him, thus far, that he should be pardoned the guilt and part of the punishment. That is, he should not perish eternally (as Rasi and others interpret tho words, thou shalt hot die), nor here suffer the death he had deserved. For though when God gave them a king like other nations, he did not intend that he should be above all law, and not be bound to the laws he himself had given (as Abarbincl observes), yet he was hot subject to the punishment of the law, which no magistrate could inflict, because he was the supreme: but God reserved his punishment to himself, and threatens to inflict it when inferioroflicers could not.’ Which threatening did not take away from him’ the power of pardoning and releasing the punishment, but he left that entire to himself, and here uses it; but in such a manner, that he freed David only from the punishment of death, and the loss of his kingdom: otherwise he was to suffer a great many and sore calamities as long as he lived. (See J. Benedict. CarpzoviusuponSchickard’s Jus Regium, cap. 2. Theor. 7. p. 137.) Whereby it appears how false” the doctrine of the Talmudists is concerning the power of the great Sarih’cdrin, who’ they say had power to scourge their kings, &c. Which wc never find was attempted, though Saul and David, and especially Manasseh, committed most heinous sins, which deserved severe correction. *

2 Samuel 12:14

*** Hoicbeit,’ because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.** This was an additional punishment, to be inflicted presently: because his sin was highly aggravated, in that the nations about them might thereby be tempted to have him and his Divine law in great " contempt: which they saw no more regarded by the best men that professed it. * Or, they might blaspheme God, as a respecter of persons, who had rejected Saul, and yet kept David on the throne, who had done worse than he. Or, the Ammonites, perhaps, insulted over Israel and their God, when they had killed Uriah and others with him. Yet Procopius Gazaeus here well observes, there was spine mercy mixed with this punishment; for if the child had lived, it would have been a standing monument of his adultery. Arid therefore itmay’.be thought, that, in favour of David; God took him away, that he might remove his reproach. But this verse suggests a wonderful thing to us, that David remained many months insensible of what he had done (so bewitching is sensual pleasure); for the child begotten in adultery was born before Nia than.came to rouso him out of his lethargy. -’ ui.’. V er. 15. And Nathan departed unto his house: and the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare ttnto David, and it was very sick.] Of some sudden* sore distemper: which ^appeared, at first, as if it were mortal.;■.*;.? X

2 Samuel 12:16

David therefore besought the Lord for the child. He thought the threatening might not be absolute: >the will of God being not always manifested entirely at once; but he reserves still something to himself. As when he com-’ manded Abraham to offer his son: and when he told Hezekiah he should die. - “,. \ And David fasted, and went in.] To his closet, I suppose, or some place of retirement.;.’. And lay all night upon “the earth.] Humbling himself greatly for his sin, which had deserved this, andfar sorer* punishment. Salvian (in his second book, De Gubern. Dei) describes this admirably:’— He put off his purple,* saith he/threw away his royal “ornaments,.laid down his diadem; wholly stripped himself of his” kingship, and appeared as’ a penitent, in a squalid, ruefulgarb; fasting, lying on the ground^ cdnfessing/mourriing,” repenting, der precating, 8cc. and yet, with all his humiliation and compunction, he could notobtain a revocation of this~ punishment. By this, and the story of Absalom, it appears that David.was a great lover x>f his’childrcn: many of which’ proved great afflictions to him.:

2 Samuel 12:17

And the elders [of his house. The principal of-’ fixers belonging to the court. - Arose, and went to hint to raise him up from the earth.] By their earnest entreaties, to’have a care of his own health! ’ v’ \ ■-’ “ >■ y\ Buthe would not, neither did he eat bread with them.] As he was wont to do at other times, when the principal persons of the court sat at table with him. But it is riot to bethought that David ate nothing all the time the child’ was sick, but only after he began to despair of his life; or perhaps, all the time he ate nothing’till the evening; and then abstained from all delicate food, and contented himself with coarser fare.

2 Samuel 12:18

And it came to pass, that on the seventh day the child died. Either the seventh day after its birth, before it was circumcised, or* the seventh after it fell sick. This was the first beginning of the Divine animadversion upon him (as’ Salvian speaks), " Fuit utiquc primum, sednon solum,” it was indeed the first, but not the alone r for there followed along train of exceeding great troubles.,"•- And the servants of David feared to tell him the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while thechild’was yet alive, toe spake unto him, and he ivould not’ hearken tinto our’voice; hoio will he then vex himself, ifxve tell him the cliild is dead?] Thus they whispered and reasoned among themselves^ so that he might not hear them, as appears by the next verse.-

2 Samuel 12:20

Then David rose upfront the earth, and washed, and anointed himself and changed his apparel. Put off the habit of a mourner, and prepared himself decently to appear before God. For it is certain the Jews were wont to wash before they went into the house of God, either their whole body, or their hands; which was usual among the gentiles also. And some have imagined the Jews learnt it from them; because we find no mention of it, as they say, till the time of Judith, xii. 7. (See Dr. Spencer, dissert. 3. cap. 2. sect. 11.) But that is a mistake; Jt being mentioned not only here in this place, but in the book of Psalms, xxvi. 6. For God haying anciently commanded them to wash themselves, before they appeared in his presence at Mount Sinai, (Exod. xx. 20.) they thence, it is likely, concluded it was fit to prepare themselves for all their holy assemblies after the same manner. And came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped.] This was done like a truly good man, who, before he would go to his own house, went to God’s, and there gave him thanks, we may suppose, for the pardon of his sin, and not cutting him.olf as he had done his child. He acknowledged also the justice of God, and did not complain of his severity. He submitted to his holy will, and beseeched him, perhaps, thatthe remaining afflictions might be moderated, and made profitable to him. Then he came to his oivn house; and, when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.] I suppose he was in some retired room of his own house, where he lay upon the earth mourning, and would not eat: from whence he would not remove to any other part of it, till he had been first at the house of God, and there worshipped.

2 Samuel 12:21

Then said his servants to him, What is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child when he was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.] His great officers, w T ho sat at the table with him, I suppose, said this.

2 Samuel 12:22

And he said, Wliile the child was yet alive I fasted and wept; for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious unto me,’ that the child may live?. They thought him preposterous in mourning while the child was alive, and cheering up himself when it was dead. r But he shews what reason he had for both: it being possible God might be so kind as to reverse the sentence of death which he had pronounced against the child, upon David’s humiliation, repentance, and earnest prayer to him for mercy. Vcr. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can, I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.] But now God’s will being declared to be absolute, it was in vain to solicit for the child’s life; which he could not hope to see restored by fasting and prayers, or any other means: but he must rather prepare to go to it, than think of bringing it back to him. Maimonides says, that they did not lament infants who died before they wero thirty days old, but carried them in their arms to the graye, with one woman and two men to attend them; without saying the usual prayers over them, or the consolations for mourners. But if an infant was above thirty days old when he died, they carried him out on a small bier, and stood over him in order, and said the prayers and consolations. If he was a year old, then he was carried out upon a bed. This custom Gierus thinks David followed, in making no mourning for his child when it was dead: though there is no ground to think such customs as Maimonides describes were used in these early days. (See L. do Luctu Ebraeorum, cap. 3.)

2 Samuel 12:24

And David comforted Bath-sheba his wife. Who, no doubt, was deeply afflicted for the loss of her child: which was a strong bond while it lived, to tie David’s affection to her: but being dead, she might fear he would no longer have any concern for her; but, perhaps, divorce her, as having been the occasion of great evil to him. It is observable, that there is not one word said of Bath-sheba in all this relation, either concerning her guilt or her punishment. She was punished, I suppose, in the calamities that befel David: who enticed her, not she him, to commit the foul sin.of adultery, and was innocent in the murder of Uriah. And went in unto her, and lay with Iter.] Which it was not lawful to do, as Maimonides observes, while the days of mourning lasted: for then they might not so much as marry, though they did not lie together. But those days being ended, he enjoyed her company. The same Gierus hath collected a great deal to this purpose, in the forenamed book, cap. 21. And she bare him a son, a?id called his name Solomon.] Some think his mother first gave him this name, as soon as he was born. And the Lord loved him.] As the Lord told him, it is likely, by Nathan the prophet: who comforted him, after his great humiliation, with this good hope, that notwithstanding his sin God would have a kindness for this son* and make him very famous. Such is the wonderful goodness of God to truly-penitent sinners, who testify the sincerity of their repentance by humble submission to whatsoever punishments God thinks fit to inflict upon them (as David did to the death of the former child), and thereby incline the Divine Goodness to shew further mercy to them.

2 Samuel 12:25

And he sent by the hand ofNatlian the prophet; and called his name Jedidiah. But David hereupon sent to give his child another name; signifying the love which he was assured God had to him. But the Scripture never calls him by this name, but always Solomon: which name the people loved, because he built the house of the Lord in peaceable times. Because of the Lord.] Because he had so graciously declared his love to him. For the name imports, as is noted in the margin of the Bible, beloved of the Lord. Victorinus Strigclius translates the first w r ords of this verse thus, " Tradidit eum in manum Nathan;” &c. Ue committed him to the hand of Nathan the prophet; that he might educate him, and bring him up in piety, and in the knowledge of all things necessary for a prince to be acquainted withal. For the most excellent natures are apt to err in many things (as he observes) without learning; and therefore, though Hercules had a very great genius, yet he was put into the hands of learned men to instruct him; as appears by the verses of Theocritus, which recite his CHAP. XII.] THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. masters. Thus Alexander was bred up by Aristotle in all manner of learning: and if Constantine, together with his piety, had not been furnished with a great deal of knowledge, he could not have managed the cause of Christ against the Arians so well as he did in the council of bishops.

2 Samuel 12:26

And Joab fought against Rabbahof the children of Amnion, and tools the city. That part of the city where the royal palace was; which lay upon the water that ran by the city, as the next verse seems to interpret it. It is not to be imagined that Joab continued the,siege so long, as till David had two children by Bath-sheba: but this was done after the death of Uriah; when David commanded them to make their assault stronger against the city,(xi; 25.)

2 Samuel 12:27

And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against JRabbah, and have taken the city of waters. That part of this city which lay upon the water: the other part, which was the heart of the city, being yet untaken. But it being supplied with water from this part, of which Joab had got possession, it could not hold out long, but would be forced to surrender, because Joab cut off their water from them. So Josephus understood it, rwv iddruyv avrovg cnroTifxvofxzvog, lib. vii. cap. 7. And thus some learned men translate the last words of this verse, by adding the particle mem before eth, He took from the city the tvaters.

2 Samuel 12:28

Now 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. As, from the conquest of Africa, Scipio was called Africanus. By this it appears, that though Joab had many faults, yet he loved his prince, and endeavoured to raise his. glory.

2 Samuel 12:29

And David gathered all the, people together. All that were fit for war. And went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.] The army being reinforced with such great recruits, they did not merely block up the city to starve it, and force it to surrender, but took it by storm, and permitted the soldiers to plunder and take the spoil of it; as Josephus writes, dtapiraaaL rote (rrpaTiurraig a^ifctv.

2 Samuel 12:30

And he took the king’s crown from off his head. This was the king’s part of the spoil: and the Talmudists also say, that all the household-stuff of the conquered king belonged to the king that was victorious. (See Grotius, lib. iii. de Jure Belli ctPacis, cap. 23. sect. 24.) The’ weight whereof was a talent of gold.] Or rather, the price, or value of it: as the Hebrew word frequently signifies, and pot only weight. (See Bochartus, in his Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 37. p. 380.) And so it is to be taken here; for who was able to carry on his head such a weight as a talent, which th^y say was a hundred twentyfive pounds? With the precious stones.] Which made the value of it so great. Josephus here saith, that there was one stone of great price, lv pLayi in the middle of the crown; which he calls a sardonyx. The original of which fable Bochartus hath ingeniously conjectured in his Hicrozoicon, par. i. lib. y. cap. 7. where he mentions other conceits of the Jews about this stone. And he brought forth’the spoil of the city in great abundance.] This passage is thus rendered by Josephus, 7roXXa tz Kai aXXa <TKv\a Xafxirpu icat iroXvnfxa tupev iv t£ 7rtfAu. He fotind more and other prey in the city very splendid, and of great price.

2 Samuel 12:31

And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kilns. Some of the inhabitants he caused to be sawn in sunder; over others horses drew harrows with great iron teeth; others were drawn over sharp sickles, or sharp stones, which perhaps he means by brick-kilns: for so some interpreters understand it, that he dragged them through the place where bricks were made; and there * grated their flesh upon the ragged pieces of broken bricks. Though some will have this word malken to signify the place where the Ammonites offered their sacrifices to their god Moloch, or Malcome (as he is often called), and made the people there to pass.through the fire. So the Vulgar translates it, fornacem Moloch, the furnace of Moloch. This dreadful punishment was to terrify other countries’ from violating the right of nations, by abusing public ambassadors. Though many have thought it too severe, and looked upon it as an argument, that David did this in the state of his impenitence: when the mild and gentle Spirit of God was departed from him, and he was become cruel and furious, as well as lustful.’ And thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Amnion.] This will not let us think that he punished so cruelly only those who, advised the using of his ambassadors shamefully, or ( applauded it (as many it is likely did, that lived in Rabbah), for he treated all the cities in the country in the same rigorous manner. So David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.’] After they had brought all the country into subjection to him, and secured the possession of it. For it is not likely all the country people, women and children, were thus used; but only the military men, Who had levied war against David, and called the Syrians to their assistance, and since put him to the trouble* and charge of a long siege of Rabbah.