20 Then David H1732 arose H6965 from the earth, H776 and washed, H7364 and anointed H5480 himself, and changed H2498 his apparel, H8071 and came H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and worshipped: H7812 then he came H935 to his own house; H1004 and when he required, H7592 they set H7760 bread H3899 before him, and he did eat. H398
Then Job H347 arose, H6965 and rent H7167 his mantle, H4598 and shaved H1494 his head, H7218 and fell down H5307 upon the ground, H776 and worshipped, H7812
Wash H7364 thyself therefore, and anoint H5480 thee, and put H7760 thy raiment H8071 upon thee, and get thee down H3381 to the floor: H1637 but make not thyself known H3045 unto the man, H376 until he shall have done H3615 eating H398 and drinking. H8354
And they brought H935 in the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and set H3322 it in his place, H4725 in the midst H8432 of the tabernacle H168 that David H1732 had pitched H5186 for it: and David H1732 offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 and peace offerings H8002 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
Then went H935 king H4428 David H1732 in, and sat H3427 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 and he said, H559 Who am I, O Lord H136 GOD? H3069 and what is my house, H1004 that thou hast brought H935 me hitherto? H1988
Let thy garments H899 be always H6256 white; H3836 and let thy head H7218 lack H2637 no ointment. H8081
Wherefore doth a living H2416 man H120 complain, H596 a man H1397 for the punishment of his sins? H2399 Let us search H2664 and try H2713 our ways, H1870 and turn again H7725 to the LORD. H3068 Let us lift up H5375 our heart H3824 with our hands H3709 unto God H410 in the heavens. H8064
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 12
Commentary on 2 Samuel 12 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 12
The foregoing chapter gave us the account of David's sin; this gives us the account of his repentance. Though he fell, he was not utterly cast down, but, by the grace of God, recovered himself, and found mercy with God. Here is,
2Sa 12:1-14
It seems to have been a great while after David had been guilty of adultery with Bath-sheba before he was brought to repentance for it. For, when Nathan was sent to him, the child was born (v. 14), so that it was about nine months that David lay under the guilt of that sin, and, for aught that appears, unrepented of. What shall we think of David's state all this while? Can we imagine that his heart never smote him for it, or that he never lamented it in secret before God? I would willingly hope that he did, and that Nathan was sent to him, immediately upon the birth of the child, when the thing by that means came to be publicly known and talked of, to draw from him an open confession of the sin, to the glory of God, the admonition of others, and that he might receive, by Nathan, absolution with certain limitations. But, during these nine months, we may well suppose his comforts and the exercises of his graces suspended, and his communion with God interrupted; during all that time, it is certain, he penned no psalms, his harp was out of tune, and his soul like a tree in winter, that has life in the root only. Therefore, after Nathan had been with him, he prays, Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and open thou my lips, Ps. 51:12, 15. Let us observe,
2Sa 12:15-25
Nathan, having delivered his message, staid not at court, but went home, probably to pray for David, to whom he had been preaching. God, in making use of him as an instrument to bring David to repentance, and as the herald both of mercy and judgment, put an honour upon the ministry, and magnified his word above all his name. David named one of his sons by Bath-sheba Nathan, in honour of this prophet (1 Chr. 3:5), and it was that son of whom Christ, the great prophet, lineally descended, Lu. 3:31. When Nathan retired, David, it is probable, retired likewise, and penned the 51st Psalm, in which (though he had been assured that his sin was pardoned) he prays earnestly for pardon, and greatly laments his sin; for then will true penitents be ashamed of what they have done when God is pacified towards them, Eze. 16:63.
Here is,
2Sa 12:26-31
We have here an account of the conquest of Rabbah, and other cities of the Ammonites. Though this comes in here after the birth of David's child, yet it is most probable that it was effected a good while before, and soon after the death of Uriah, perhaps during the days of Bath-sheba's mourning for him. Observe,