2 Samuel 12

1 And יהוה sent Nathan unto Dawid. And he came unto him, and said unto him, “There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds.

3 But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up; and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.”

5 And Dawid’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, “As יהוה liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die!

6 And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 And Nathan said to Dawid, “You are the man. Thus saith יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael): ‘I anointed you king over Yisrael, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul;

8 And I gave you your master’s house, and your master’s wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Yisrael and of Judah (Yehudah); and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto you such and such things.

9 Wherefore have you despised the commandment of יהוה, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriyah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be your wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house; because you have despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriyah the Hittite to be your wife.’

11 Thus saith יהוה: ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house, and I will take your wives before your eyes, and give them unto your neighbour, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For you didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Yisrael, and before the sun.’”

13 And Dawid said unto Nathan, “I have sinned against יהוה. And Nathan said unto Dawid,” יהוה also hath put away your sin; you shalt not die.

14 Howbeit, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of יהוה to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto you shall surely die.”

15 And Nathan departed unto his house. And יהוה struck the child that Uriyah’s wife bare unto Dawid, and it was very sick.

16 Dawid therefore besought God (Elohim) for the child; and Dawid fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth; but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of Dawid feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice; how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?”

19 But when Dawid saw that his servants whispered, Dawid perceived that the child was dead; therefore Dawid said unto his servants, “Is the child dead?” And they said, “He is dead.”

20 Then Dawid arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of יהוה, and worshipped; then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set food before him, and he did eat.

21 Then said his servants unto him, “What thing is this that you have done? You didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, you didst rise and eat food.”

22 And he said, “While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who can tell whether יהוה will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’

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

24 And Dawid comforted Bat-Sheva his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her; and she bare a son, and he called his name N39Solomon (Shelomoh); and יהוה loved him.

25 And he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name N37Yedidyah (beloved of Yahwah), because of יהוה.

26 And Yoav fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

27 And Yoav sent messengers to Dawid, and said, “I have fought against Rabbah, and have taken the city of waters.

28 Now therefore gather the rest of the people together, and encamp against the city, and take it; lest I take the city, and it be called after my name.”

29 And Dawid gathered all the people together, and went to Rabbah, and fought against it, and took it.

30 And he took their king’s crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones; and it was set on Dawid’s head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.

31 And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln; and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So Dawid and all the people returned unto Jerusalem (Yerushalayim).