Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Samuel 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Samuel 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
2 Samuel 12
"And Jehovah 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 12:1 (ASV)
Nathan came to David as if to ask for his judicial decision on the case about to be submitted to him (compare 2 Samuel 14:2–11; 1 Kings 20:35–41). The circumstances of the story are exquisitely contrived to heighten David's pity for the oppressed and his indignation against the oppressor (1 Samuel 25:13, 22).
"and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." — 2 Samuel 12:6 (ASV)
Fourfold - The exact number prescribed by the Law (see the marginal references), and acted upon by Zacchaeus. The Septuagint has “sevenfold,” as in Proverbs 6:31.
"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, I would have added unto thee such and such things." — 2 Samuel 12:8 (ASV)
And your master’s wives ... - According to Eastern custom, the royal harem was a part of the royal inheritance. The prophets spoke in such matters according to the received opinions of their day, and not always according to the abstract rule of right .
"Thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I 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 neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun." — 2 Samuel 12:11 (ASV)
The cross-references show that in both aspects of David’s crime, the retribution corresponded to his sin. His adultery was punished by Absalom’s outrage, and his murder by the bloodshed of family conflicts, which cost the lives of at least three of his favorite sons: Amnon, Absalom, and Adonijah.
"And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." — 2 Samuel 12:13 (ASV)
For a comment on David’s words, read Psalm 51 and Psalm 32:1-11.
You shall not die—This was not spoken of the punishment of death for adultery as prescribed by the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; John 8:5), because its application to an absolute Eastern monarch was out of the question. The death of the soul is meant (compare Ezekiel 18:4, 18:13, and 18:18).
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