📖 2 Samuel — Chapter 12 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
2 Samuel 12:1 And Rthe LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
2 Samuel 12:2 The rich man had Rexceeding many flocks and herds:
2 Samuel 12:3 But the poor man had nothing, save Rone little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own Tmeat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
2 Samuel 12:4 And there came Ra traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
2 Samuel 12:5 And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, RAs the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing Tshall surely die:
2 Samuel 12:6 And he shall Rrestore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
2 Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, RThou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
2 Samuel 12:8 And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, RI would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.
2 Samuel 12:9 Wherefore hast thou Rdespised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
2 Samuel 12:10 Now therefore Rthe sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
2 Samuel 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, RI will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will 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.
2 Samuel 12:12 For thou didst it Rsecretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
2 Samuel 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, RI have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
2 Samuel 12:14 Howbeit, because Rby 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.
2 Samuel 12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD Rstruck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore Rbesought God for the child; and David Tfasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
2 Samuel 12:17 And Rthe elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
2 Samuel 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then Tvex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
2 Samuel 12:19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
2 Samuel 12:20 Then David Rarose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
2 Samuel 12:21 Then said his servants unto him, RWhat thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
2 Samuel 12:22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, RI fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
2 Samuel 12:23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? RI shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
2 Samuel 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and Rshe bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.
2 Samuel 12:25 And he sent by the hand of RNathan the prophet; and he called his name TJedidiah, because of the LORD.
2 Samuel 12:26 And RJoab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.
2 Samuel 12:27 And Joab sent messengers to David, and said, I have fought against RRabbah, and have taken the city of waters.
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 RTit be called after my name.
2 Samuel 12:29 And David gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.
2 Samuel 12:30 And he Rtook their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city Tin great abundance.
2 Samuel 12:31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, Rand put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brick-kiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 12:1–12 — Nathan exposes the king’s wrongdoing
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Nathan tells of a rich man taking a poor man’s beloved lamb. David condemns the injustice before Nathan identifies him as the man. God’s message names David’s killing of Uriah and taking of his wife, and announces consequences within his household. Nathan’s courage shows that kings remain accountable to God.
Key Truth: Condemning another person’s wrong must not hide our own.
Check What You Remember
1. Which prophet did the LORD send? (2 Samuel 12:1)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:1 (KJV).
2. What animal did the poor man cherish? (2 Samuel 12:3)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:3 (KJV).
3. Who did Nathan identify as the man? (2 Samuel 12:7)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:7 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 12:13–23 — Confession, mercy, and grief
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David confesses his sin, and Nathan announces that the LORD has put it away, yet consequences remain. David pleads and fasts for the sick child, who dies on the seventh day. He then worships and explains why he had hoped for mercy. This particular judgment does not authorize blaming bereaved parents for a child’s death.
Key Truth: Forgiveness is real even when painful consequences are not erased.
Check What You Remember
1. Against whom did David say he had sinned? (2 Samuel 12:13)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:13 (KJV).
2. On which day did the child die? (2 Samuel 12:18)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:18 (KJV).
3. What did David do in the house of the LORD after the death? (2 Samuel 12:20)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:20 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
2 Samuel 12:24–31 — Solomon’s birth and the conquest of Rabbah
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
David comforts Bathsheba, and Solomon is born; the LORD loves him and Nathan gives him the name Jedidiah. The account returns to Rabbah, where Joab calls David to complete the conquest. The KJV reports severe treatment of the defeated people. Royal success and a new birth do not cancel the chapter’s warning about the damage of sin.
Key Truth: Continue reading both mercy and accountability without overlooking suffering.
Check What You Remember
1. What was the new son’s name? (2 Samuel 12:24)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:24 (KJV).
2. What additional name was given through Nathan? (2 Samuel 12:25)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:25 (KJV).
3. Which Ammonite city did David take? (2 Samuel 12:29)
Find it in 2 Samuel 12:29 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Psalms 51:4 — This psalm expresses confession before God and is traditionally connected with Nathan’s confrontation of David.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
What does honest confession require beyond feeling sorry? Think about admitting harm, receiving God’s mercy, and accepting responsibility without blaming those who suffered.
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What makes the rich man’s taking of the lamb especially unjust in Nathan’s story?
2. How does Nathan redirect David’s angry judgment?
3. How does David’s confession differ from a defence of his conduct?
4. Why does David explain his changed conduct after the child’s death?
5. Why does Joab summon David before the final taking of Rabbah?
Notes
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