2 Samuel 12:5-31 ▼

5 David (beloved) burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan (giver): “As surely as the LORD {YHWH} lives, the man who did this deserves to die!

6 Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.”

7 Then Nathan (giver) said to David (beloved), “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul (desired).

8 I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel (he wrestles with God) and Judah (praised), and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

9 Why then have you despised the command of the LORD {YHWH} by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah (YHWH is my light) the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites (tribal).

10 Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah (YHWH is my light) the Hittite to be your own.’

11 This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight.

12 You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel (he wrestles with God).’”

13 Then David (beloved) said to Nathan (giver), “I have sinned against the LORD {YHWH}.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.”

15 After Nathan (giver) had gone home, the LORD {YHWH} struck the child that Uriah’s (YHWH is my light) wife had borne to David (beloved), and he became ill.

16 David (beloved) pleaded with God {Elohim} for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth on the ground.

17 The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

18 On the seventh day the child died. But David’s (beloved) servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”

19 When David (beloved) saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” “He is dead,” they replied.

20 Then David (beloved) got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD {YHWH} and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

21 “What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.”

22 David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD {YHWH} may be gracious to me and let him live.’

23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

24 Then David (beloved) comforted his wife Bathsheba (daughter of an oath), and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they (she) named him Solomon (peace). Now the LORD {YHWH} loved the child

25 and sent word through Nathan (giver) the prophet to name him Jedidiah (beloved of YHWH) because the LORD loved him (beloved of the LORD).

26 Meanwhile, Joab (YHWH is father) fought against Rabbah (great) of the Ammonites (tribal) and captured the royal fortress.

27 Then Joab (YHWH is father) sent messengers to David (beloved) to say, “I have fought against Rabbah (great) and have captured the water supply of the city (and have captured the city of waters).

28 Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.”

29 So David (beloved) assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah (great); and he fought against it and captured it.

30 Then he took the crown from the head of their king (from the head of Milcom). It weighed a talent of gold <75.4 lb / 34.2 kg> and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s (beloved) head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city.

31 David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws \put them under saws/, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns \and he made them pass through the brick kilns./. He did the same to all the Ammonite (tribal) cities. Then David (beloved) and all his troops returned to Jerusalem (city of peace).