2 Samuel 12 1

2 Samuel 12:1 kjv

And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

2 Samuel 12:1 nkjv

Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him: "There were two men in one city, one rich and the other poor.

2 Samuel 12:1 niv

The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor.

2 Samuel 12:1 esv

And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor.

2 Samuel 12:1 nlt

So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: "There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.

2 Samuel 12 verses

2 Samuel 12 1 Meaning

2 Samuel 12:1 marks the divine initiation of confronting King David's grievous sin of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. After a significant period of silence following David's actions, the Eternal One sends His prophet Nathan directly to David. Nathan approaches the king not with an immediate accusation, but with a strategic parable concerning two men, one rich and one poor, setting the stage to reveal David's sin and provoke his self-condemnation. This verse highlights God's sovereignty, His patience, and His commitment to justice and righteousness, even for those whom He has chosen and blessed.

2 Samuel 12 1 Context

Chapter 12 opens immediately following the dark narrative of 2 Samuel 11, where King David commits adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrates the murder of her loyal husband, Uriah the Hittite, to cover up the pregnancy. After Uriah's death, David takes Bathsheba as his wife, and she gives birth to a son. The preceding chapter concludes by stating, "But the thing David had done displeased the Lord" (2 Sam 11:27). A period of time, possibly up to a year (allowing for the birth of the child), has passed since the initial sins, during which David appears to have kept his sin concealed and unconfessed. There's no indication that David displayed outward remorse or sought God's forgiveness during this time. The silence is broken by God's direct intervention. Historically and culturally, kings wielded immense power, and directly challenging a monarch was dangerous. Yet, God's kingdom operates on a different standard, where even kings are accountable to the Divine Law and its consequences. This setting underscores the sovereignty of God over even the most powerful human ruler and the crucial role of the prophet as God's mouthpiece to call sin to account.

2 Samuel 12 1 Word analysis

• The Lord (יְהוָה - Yahweh): Refers to the covenant God of Israel. The use of this specific name, rather than Elohim (general term for God), signifies His personal, relational, and covenantal involvement. It emphasizes that this is not merely a consequence of human actions but a direct divine initiative stemming from His character, His covenant with David, and His commitment to justice.
• sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vayyishlach from shalach): This Hebrew verb signifies not merely sending but "commissioning" or "delegating with authority and purpose." It indicates an intentional, deliberate act by God. This sending highlights God's sovereignty over human affairs and His active intervention when His moral law is transgressed, even by His chosen king. It implies that Nathan carries God's specific message and authority.
• Nathan (נָתָן - Nathan): A significant prophet during David's reign. His name means "He (God) has given," fitting for one who brings a divine message. Nathan was initially consulted by David about building the temple (2 Sam 7) and had previously conveyed God's covenant promises to David. His trusted position and existing relationship with David would allow him an audience. His courage in directly confronting the king reflects his prophetic calling.
• to David (אֶל־דָּוִד - el-David): Direct address, underscoring that the message is personal and specifically for the king. It indicates that God is confronting the individual responsible, holding him accountable.
• He came to him (וַיָּבֹא אֵלָיו - vayyavo elayv): A direct, personal approach. Nathan does not send a messenger or merely declare a public prophecy but confronts David face-to-face. This directness signifies the seriousness and personal nature of the divine confrontation.
• and said (וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ - vayyomer lo): Introduces Nathan's spoken message. It implies a direct verbal communication, the delivery of the divine word.
• There were two men (שְׁנֵי אֲנָשִׁים - sh'nei anashim): Marks the beginning of Nathan's parabel. This phrasing, a common narrative device, immediately signals that a story or analogy is about to unfold. It aims to disarm David, making him an impartial judge of a fictional scenario before the parallel to his own life is revealed.
• in a certain city (בְּעִיר אֶחָת - b'ir echath): Establishes a setting that could be anywhere, universalizing the story so that David wouldn't immediately link it to his specific actions.
• one rich and the other poor (אֶחָד עָשִׁיר וְאֶחָד רָשׁ - echad ashir v'echad rash): Sets up a moral contrast between abundance and deprivation, justice and injustice. This simple, relatable contrast immediately evokes sympathy for the poor and indignation towards the rich who might oppress them, a common theme in prophetic social justice.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The Lord sent Nathan to David.": This powerful opening statement reveals the divine initiative and authority behind the subsequent confrontation. God is actively involved, initiating judgment but also potentially a path to repentance. It underscores the prophet's role as a divine emissary. This intervention is not accidental or coincidental; it is a divinely appointed moment for reckoning.
• "He came to him and said...": Emphasizes the directness and courage of Nathan. Despite David's immense power, Nathan, empowered by God, steps directly into the king's presence to deliver a challenging message. This is characteristic of true prophetic ministry – speaking truth to power.
• "'There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.'": This is the beginning of a wisdom strategy, a masterful narrative technique (a mashal or parable) used by prophets. By presenting a hypothetical yet relatable situation involving common justice, Nathan draws David into the narrative, eliciting an unbaised judgment before revealing its personal application. This approach bypasses immediate defensive reactions, setting the trap of self-condemnation for the king. It touches upon universal themes of fairness and disparity, appealing to David's role as a just king.

2 Samuel 12 1 Bonus section

The long gap between David's sin (2 Sam 11) and God's sending of Nathan (2 Sam 12:1) is noteworthy. Scholars suggest this period could be anywhere from several months to a year, accounting for Bathsheba's pregnancy and the birth of their child. This waiting period signifies several aspects: God's patience, allowing David ample time for self-reflection and voluntary repentance; but also His commitment that unaddressed sin, especially from a leader, cannot simply remain without divine reckoning. The lack of immediate earthly consequences allowed David's conscience to fester (as described in Psalm 32), showing that internal suffering often accompanies unconfessed sin even before external judgment. The fact that the Lord "sent Nathan" rather than delivering judgment directly through calamity, fire, or immediate death, further underscores God's mercy and His preferred method of communication through a human messenger, providing an opportunity for dialogue, confession, and the potential for restoration. Nathan's confrontation highlights a significant theological truth: prophets held a moral authority that transcended the political power of the king, ensuring that even the most powerful human leader remained accountable to the Divine Law. This stands in contrast to common ancient Near Eastern beliefs where kings were sometimes considered divine or beyond human reproach.

2 Samuel 12 1 Commentary

2 Samuel 12:1 acts as the pivot point from David's unpunished sin to divine accountability. For a significant period after his acts of adultery and murder, David likely suffered under the weight of unconfessed guilt, as implied by Psalm 32. Yet, he made no move toward repentance until God intervened. The Eternal One, in His sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant, takes the initiative, sending Nathan as His personal representative. This demonstrates God's persistent grace in pursuing His chosen one for reconciliation, but also His unyielding demand for justice and holiness. Nathan's method is masterful: instead of an immediate, direct accusation that might evoke a defensive reaction from the powerful king, he crafts a compelling parable. This parable (to be revealed in the subsequent verses) is designed to evoke a strong sense of moral indignation in David, ultimately leading him to unwittingly condemn his own actions. This highlights the wisdom often employed by God's messengers to pave the way for conviction and repentance, appealing to conscience rather than resorting to force. This pivotal moment underscores that no sin, particularly one committed by a leader, goes unnoticed or unaddressed by the holy God, demonstrating that true authority resides in the divine, not merely the earthly throne.

Examples:

• Modern application of parables: A counselor might use a hypothetical story to help someone recognize their own blind spots.
• Divine pursuit: Like a parent pursuing a wayward child, God actively reaches out to David despite his failure, showing persistent love and commitment to His covenant.