2 Samuel 12 - Introduction
_NATHAN'S PARABLE. DAVID CONFESSES HIS GUILT: THE CHILD BORN IN ADULTERY DIES. SOLOMON IS BORN, AND THE CITY OF RABBAH TAKEN._ _Before Christ 1036._... [ Continue Reading ]
_NATHAN'S PARABLE. DAVID CONFESSES HIS GUILT: THE CHILD BORN IN ADULTERY DIES. SOLOMON IS BORN, AND THE CITY OF RABBAH TAKEN._ _Before Christ 1036._... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WERE TWO MEN, &C.— See Judges 9:7. It is not easy to conceive any thing more masterly and exquisite than the present parable. It places Nathan's character in a fine point of view, and at the same time affords the ministers of religion a lively lesson how to manage the great and difficult duty... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID SAID—I HAVE SINNED— No sooner was the application of the parable made by Nathan, but David owns his offence; and the Psalms he penned on this occasion, shew the deep sense he had of the guilt he contracted, and will be a memorial of his repentance to all future ages. See especially the 51st Ps... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID THEREFORE BESOUGHT GOD FOR THE CHILD— It may be thought surprising to see so wise a man as David fasting and mourning in this extraordinary manner for a child, who, being yet an infant, could not possibly have been endeared to him by any of those blandishments which so strongly fix the parenta... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CAME TO PASS ON THE SEVENTH DAY, THAT THE CHILD DIED— Thus was the first instance of the divine vengeance upon David's guilt speedily and rigidly executed. Other instances of it were fulfilled in their order before his own eyes; and the dreadfullest of all the rest, _the sword shall never depart... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW HE IS DEAD, WHEREFORE SHOULD I FAST? &C.— If David meant only that he should die, and go to the grave like his son, as some commentators explain this passage, the consolation which it conveys would be very poor, and we should lose one of the noblest lessons that was ever penned, upon all that is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE BARE A SON, AND HE CALLED HIS NAME SOLOMON— As David was now in peace with God, and foresaw, in the spirit of prophesy, that his son would be a pacific prince, he called his name _Solomon,_ or _peaceable;_ and as this son was conceived in innocence, in the happy season of God's reconcilement... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOAB FOUGHT—AND TOOK— Or, _Now Joab had fought—and had taken._... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST RABBAH, AND HAVE TAKEN THE CITY OF WATERS, &C.— Rabbah was a royal, a large, and a populous city, watered, and in some measure encompassed by the river Jabbok. It had its name from its grandeur, being derived from a Hebrew word, signifying to increase and grow great, and was no... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TOOK THEIR KING'S CROWN, &C.— David formally deposed this king; and Dr. Trapp thinks that the form of his deposal was, by arraying him in his royal robes, and probably placing him on his throne with his crown upon his head, and then divesting him of all his ensigns of royalty. If instead of _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BROUGHT FORTH THE PEOPLE, &C.— This treatment of the Ammonites having shocked some unthinking readers, it will not be unseasonable to inform them, that the words will bear a milder interpretation. Literally, they may be rendered thus: _And he brought forth the people, and placed them by,_ [במ... [ Continue Reading ]