2 Samuel 12
1 Nathan's parable of the ewe lamb causes David to be his own judge.
7 David, reproved by Nathan, confesses his sin, and is pardoned.
15 David mourns and prays for the child while it lives.
24 Solomon is born, and named Jedidiah.
26 David takes Rabbah, and tortures the people thereof.
Lord <03068> [A.M. 2970. B.C. 1034. An. Ex. Is. 457. the Lord.]
David <01732> [unto David.]
came <0935> [he came.]
two <08147> [There were.]
There is nothing in this parable which requires illustration. Its bent is evident; and it was wisely constructed, by not having too near a resemblance, to make David unwittingly pass sentence on himself. The parable was in David's hand what his own letter was in the hands of the brave Uriah. Nathan at length closed in with him in the application of it. In beginning with a parable he shewed his prudence, and great need there is of prudence in giving reproof; but now he speaks as an ambassador from God. He reminds David of the great things God had designed and done for him, and then charges him with a high contempt of the Divine authority, and threatens an entail of judgments upon his family for this sin. Those who despise the word and law of God, despise God himself, and will assuredly suffer for such contempt.
great <03966> [exceeding.]
little <06996 0259> [one little.]
food <06595> [meat. Heb. morsel. lay in his.]
traveler <01982> [a traveller.]
use ..................... took ... poor <03947 07326> [took the.]
David <01732> [David's.]
Lord <03068> [As the Lord.]
die <04194 01121> [shall surely die. or, is worthy to die. Heb. is a son of death.]
pay <07999> [restore.]
Because <06118 0834> [because.]
man <0376> [Thou art.]
chose <04886> [I anointed.]
rescued <05337> [I delivered.]
master's ...... master's wives <0802 0113> [thy master's wives.]
gave .... master's house ..... master's ........ gave .... house <05414 0113 01004> [gave thee.]
more <03254> [I would.]
contempt <0959> [despised.]
doing evil <06213 07451> [to do evil.]
struck <05221> [thou hast.]
sword <02719> [the sword.]
For <06118> [because.]
taking <03947> [hast taken.]
bring <06965> [I will raise.]
take <03947> [I will take.]
That is, in the course of my providence I will permit this to be done. Such phrases in Scripture do not mean that God either does or can do evil himself; but only that he permits such evil to be done as he foresaw would be done, and which, had he pleased, he might have prevented.
secret <05643> [secretly.]
David .............. David <01732> [David.]
sinned <02398> [I have sinned.]
Lord ......... Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
die <04191> [thou.]
matter <01697> [by this deed.]
son <01121> [the child.]
struck ... child <05062 03206> [struck the child.]
prayed <01245> [besought.]
fasted <06684> [fasted. Heb. fasted a fast.]
spend .... lying <03885 07901> [lay all night.]
elders <02205> [the elders.]
seventh day <03117 07637> [seventh day. vex. Heb. do hurt to.]
got <06965> [arose.]
put on oil <05480> [anointed.]
house ............ palace <01004> [the house.]
<01697> [What thing.]
fasted <06684> [I fasted.]
go <01980> [I shall go.]
back .......... return <07725> [he shall not.]
birth <03205> [A.M. 2971. B.C. 1033. An. Ex. Is. 458. she bare.]
Nathan <05416> [Nathan.]
Jedidiah <03041> [Jedidiah. that is, Beloved of the Lord.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbah.]
Rabbah, or Rabbath-Ammon, also called Philadelphia, from Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, was situated east of Jordan, and, according to Eusebius, ten miles east from Jazer. It is sometimes mentioned as belonging to Arabia, sometimes to Coelo-Syria; and was one of the cities of the Decapolis east of Jordan. Josephus extends the region of Perea as far as Philadelphia. It is now, says Burckhardt, called Amman, distant about 19 miles to the S. E. by E. of Szalt, and lies along the banks of a river called Moiet Amman, which has its source in a pond, at a few hundred paces from the south-western end of the town, and empties itself in the Zerka, or Jabbok, about four hours to the northward. This river runs in a valley bordered on both sides by barren hills of flint, which advance on the south side close to the edge of the stream. The edifices which still remain, though in a decaying state, from being built of a calcareous stone of moderate hardness, sufficiently attest the former greatness and splendour of this metropolis of the children of Ammon.
Rabbah <07237> [Rabbah.]
water ..... city <05892 04325> [the city of waters.]
Probably that part of the city situated near the pond, from which the rest received their water.
named <08034 07121> [it be called after my name. Heb. my name be called upon it.]
took <03947> [took.]
weighed <04948> [the weight.]
If this talent was only seven pounds, as Whiston says, David might have carried it on his head with little difficulty; but this weight, according to common computation, would amount to nearly 114 pounds! Some, therefore, think, that {mishkelah} should be taken for its value, not weight; which renders it perfectly plain, as the worth of the crown will be about 5,074œ. 15s. 7d. sterling. The ancients mention several such large crowns, made more for sight than use. Athen‘us describes a crown of gold that was 24 feet in circumference; and mentions others that were two, some four, and others five feet deep. Pliny takes notice of some that were no less than eight pounds weight. Besides the crown usually worn, it was customary for kings, in some nations, to have such large ones as described, either hung or supported over the throne, where they sat at their coronation or other solemn occasions.
great deal <03966 07235> [in great abundance. Heb. very great.]
made ....... saws <07760 04050> [and put them.]
Rather, as the particle [b] frequently signifies, "And he put them to saws, and to harrows, and to axes," etc., as we say, to put a person to the plough, to the anvil, to the last, etc.
[Also.]
