2 Samuel 12:15

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 12:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah`s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah`s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
2 Samuel 12:15 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah`s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Nathan departed unto his house, etc.] His own house, which probably was in the city of Jerusalem, having delivered his message, and brought David to a sense of his sin, and declared to him from the Lord the forgiveness of it; yet for the honour of religion, and the stopping of the mouths of blasphemers, the death of the child is threatened and foretold, and then Nathan took his leave of him, having nothing more from the Lord to say to him: and the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David; for so she was, and not David’s wife, when this child was begotten of her; and, as a mark of God’s displeasure at the sin of adultery, the child was struck with a sore disease by the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“the Lord struck the child . . . and it was very sick--The first visible chastisement inflicted on David appeared on the person of that child which was the evidence and monument of his guilt. His domestics were surprised at his conduct, and in explanation of its singularity, it is necessary to remark that the custom in the East is to leave the nearest relative of a deceased person to the full and undisturbed indulgence of his grief, till on the third or fourth day at farthest (Joh 11:17). Then the other relatives and friends visit him, invite him to eat, lead him to a bath, and bring him a change of dress, which is necessary from his having sat or lain on the ground. The surprise of David's…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“struck the child: Deu 32:39; Sa1 25:38, Sa1 26:10; Kg2 15:5; Ch2 13:20; Psa 104:29; Act 12:23 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 12:16”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“David's Penitential Grief, and the Birth of Solomon. - Sa2 12:15. The last-mentioned punishment was inflicted without delay. When Nathan had gone home, the Lord smote the child, so that it became very ill. Sa2 12:16-17 Then David sought God (in prayer) for the boy, and fasted, and went and lay all night upon the earth. וּבא, "he came," not into the sanctuary of the Lord ( Sa2 12:20 is proof to the contrary), but into his house, or into his chamber, to pour out his heart before God, and bend beneath His chastising hand, and refused the appeal of his most confidential servants, who tried to raise him up, and strengthen him with food. "The elders of his house," judging from Gen 24:2, were the…”
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Sources and verification