2 Samuel 12:16

Contextual Overview

¹⁵ And Nathan departed to his house. And Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick. ¹⁵ After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah's wife. ¹⁵ And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. ¹⁵ Then Nathan went home. And the Lord caused the son of David and Bathsheba, Uriah's widow, to be very sick. ¹⁵ Then Nathan went to his home. The Lord struck the child that Uriah's wife had borne to David, and the child became very ill. ¹⁵ And Nathan departed to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick. ¹⁵ Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it was very sick. ¹⁵Then Nathan went [back] to his home. Loss of a Child And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's widow bore to David, and he was very sick. ¹⁵ Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he became sick. ¹⁵ And Nathan turnede ayen in to his hows. And the Lord smoot the litil child, whom the wijf of Vrye childide to Dauid, and he dispeiride.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

besought: 2 Samuel 12:22, Psalms 50:15, Isaiah 26:16, Joel 2:12-14, Jonah 3:9

fasted: Heb. fasted a fast, Esther 4:16, Psalms 69:10, Isaiah 22:12, Acts 9:9

lay all night: 2 Samuel 13:31, Job 20:12-14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 9:18 - I fell down Joshua 7:6 - fell 1 Samuel 1:8 - why weepest 1 Kings 18:42 - he cast himself Job 1:20 - fell Daniel 6:18 - and passed Joel 1:13 - lie Matthew 6:16 - when Mark 5:23 - besought John 11:31 - She goeth 1 Corinthians 2:15 - yet 2 Corinthians 12:8 - I besought

Cross-References

Genesis 12:13
Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake."

Genesis 12:13
Say, I pray you, you are my sister; that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.

Genesis 12:13
Tell them you are my sister so that things will go well with me and I may be allowed to live because of you."

Genesis 12:13
So tell them you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you and my life will be spared on account of you."

Genesis 12:13
Say, I pray thee, thou [art] my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

Genesis 12:13
Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you."

Genesis 12:13
"Please tell them that you are my sister so that things will go well for me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you."

Genesis 12:13
Therfor, Y biseche thee, seie thou, that thou art my sistir, that it be wel to me for thee, and that my lijf lyue for loue of thee.

Genesis 12:13
say, I pray thee, thou [art] my sister, so that it is well with me because of thee, and my soul hath lived for thy sake.'

Genesis 12:13
Please say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake, and on account of you my life will be spared."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

David therefore besought God for the child,.... Perhaps went into the tabernacle he had built for the ark, and prayed to the Lord to restore the child, and spare its life; for though the Lord had said it should die, he might hope that that was a conditional threatening, and that the Lord might be gracious and reverse it, 2 Samuel 12:22;

and David fasted: all that day:

and went in; to his own house from the house of God:

and lay all night upon the earth; would neither go into, nor lie upon a bed, but lay on the floor all night, weeping and praying for the child's life, and especially for its eternal welfare: he having through sin been the means of its coming into a sinful and afflicted state.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The death of the infant child of one of the numerous harem of an Oriental monarch would in general be a matter of little moment to the father. The deep feeling shown by David on this occasion is both an indication of his affectionate and tender nature, and also a proof of the strength of his passion for Bath-sheba. He went into his most private chamber, his closet Matthew 6:6, and “lay upon the earth” 2 Samuel 13:31, rather “the ground,” meaning the floor of his chamber as opposed to his couch.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Samuel 12:16. David - besought God for the child — How could he do so, after the solemn assurance that he had from God that the child should die? The justice of God absolutely required that the penalty of the law should be exacted; either the father or the son shall die. This could not be reversed.