2 Samuel 12:9

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 12:9 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten 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 12:9 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 12

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten 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.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? etc.] The commandment referred to is the law of God, particularly the sixth and seventh precepts of it, (<022013>Exodus 20:13,14); which David had shown no regard unto, and by his breaking them had slighted and despised them: thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; and so had despised and broken the sixth command, (<022013>Exodus 20:13); for though he had not taken away his life with his own hand, he had plotted and contrived it, and had given orders to put him in such a position as would issue in it: and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife; after he had defiled her, being another man’s wife, and…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To be thy wife - To marry her whom he had defiled, and whose husband he had slain, was an affront upon the ordinance of marriage, making that not only to palliate, but in a manner to consecrate such villainies. In all this he despised the word of the Lord; (so it is in the Hebrew.) Not only his commandment in general, but the particular word of promise, which God had before sent him by Nathan, that he would build him an house: which sacred promise if he had had a due value for, he would not have polluted his house with lust and blood. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 12:10”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“despised: Sa2 12:10, Sa2 11:4, Sa2 11:14-17; Gen 9:5, Gen 9:6; Exo 20:13, Exo 20:14; Num 15:30, Num 15:31; Sa1 15:19, Sa1 15:23; Isa 5:24; Amo 2:4; Heb 10:28, Heb 10:29 to do evil: Ch2 33:6; Psa 51:4, Psa 90:8, Psa 139:1, Psa 139:2; Jer 18:10 thou hast: Sa2 11:15-27 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 12:10”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification