📖WEB · 2 Samuel 12:16

What does 2 Samuel 12:16 mean?

"David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground."

— 2 Samuel 12:16 (World English Bible)

Surrounding context

13

David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.

14

However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to Yahweh’s enemies to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you will surely die.”

15

Nathan departed to his house. Yahweh struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it was very sick.

16

David therefore begged God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night on the ground.

17

The elders of his house arose beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, and he didn’t eat bread with them.

18

On the seventh day, the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he didn’t listen to our voice. How will he then harm himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?”

19

But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.”

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