Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Samuel 12:1

"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).