2 Samuel 12:16-23 ▼

16 And David pleaded with God for the child, and David kept a fast, and he came in and spent the night and laid down in sackcloth on the ground.

17 And the elders of his house arose beside him to raise him up from the ground, and he would not, nor did he eat food with them.

18 And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. And how can we tell him the child is dead? He may do some harm.”

19 And David saw that his servants were whispering, and David perceived that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”

20 And David arose from the ground, and he washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes, and he went into the house of YHWH and worshiped. And he went to his own house, and he requested, and they set before him food, and he ate.

21 And his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; and when the child died, you arose and ate food.”

22 And he said, “While the child was alive I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows that YHWH may be gracious, and the child may live?’

23 And he is dead. Why is this that I should fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, and he shall not return to me.”