2 Samuel 12:2

12:2 The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.

2 Samuel 12:1

Nathan the Prophet Confronts David

12:1 So the Lord sent Nathan to David. When he came to David, Nathan said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.

2 Samuel 12:4

12:4 “When a traveler arrived at the rich man’s home, he did not want to use one of his own sheep or cattle to feed the traveler who had come to visit him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked it for the man who had come to visit him.”


tc A few medieval Hebrew mss, the LXX, and the Syriac Peshitta add “the prophet.” The words are included in a few modern English version (e.g., TEV, CEV, NLT).

tn Heb “him”; the referent (David) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn Heb “he”; the referent (Nathan) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

tn The Hebrew text repeats “to him.”

tn Heb “came to the rich man.” In the translation “arrived at the rich man’s home” has been used for stylistic reasons.

tn Heb “and he refused to take from his flock and from his herd to prepare [a meal] for.”

tn Heb “who had come to him” (also a second time later in this verse). The word “visit” has been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons and for clarity.

tn Heb “and prepared.”