Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 12:3

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.

3. of his own meat ] Of his own morsel. The E. V. misses something of the graphic tenderness of the original, describing how the lamb actually shared the poor man’s meal.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 3. And lay in his bosom] This can only mean that this lamb was what we call a pet or favourite in the family, else the circumstance would be very unnatural, and most likely would have prevented David from making the application which he did, as otherwise it would have appeared absurd. It is the only part of this parable which is at variance with nature and fact.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

The poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb; designing Uriah, with his own and only wife. Which he had bought; as men then used to buy their wives; or, had procured. Lay in his bosom; which David might take for hyperbolical expressions of his tender care of and affection to it; although there want not instances of some who have treated such brute creatures in this manner.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

But the poor [man] had nothing, save one little ewe lamb,…. Uriah had but one wife, who was much younger than he, called a lamb, an ewe lamb, a little one. Abarbinel thinks Uriah had been a widower; and had children by another wife, supposed in the parable, and was much older than Bathsheba:

which he had bought; for men in those times and countries did not receive portions with their wives, but gave dowries to them, and for them:

and nourished up; as his own flesh, as husbands should their wives, Eph 5:29;

and it grew up together with him, and with his children; which Kimchi also supposes Uriah had by a former wife:

it did eat of his own meat, and drink of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter; all which are expressive of the care, kindness, love, and tenderness of a loving husband, whose affections are endeared to his wife, making her partaker of all he has, and to share in whatever he eats and drinks, and in his dearest embraces; and as there were instances of creatures, lambs and others, particularly tame or pet lambs, used in this way in a literal sense, to which the reference in the parable is, David had no suspicion of its being a parable. Bochart q has given many instances of creatures nourished and brought up in such a familiar manner.

q Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 46. col. 521, 522.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(3) It grew up together.All these circumstances are exquisitely contrived to heighten the pity of the hearer for the oppressed, and his indignation against the oppressor.Speakers Commentary.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

3. One little ewe lamb Referring tenderly to Bathsheba.

Lay in his bosom As a family pet. Perhaps designed to indicate that Uriah was passionately devoted to his wife.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

2Sa 12:3 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.

Ver. 3. But the poor man. ] Poor Uriah; poor in comparison of David, who had all that heart could wish.

Save one little ewe lamb. ] This was his Bathsheba, he had no more wives but her: as Isaac never had more than Rebecca, whom therefore he loved tenderly and entirely.

And it grew up together with him, and with his children. ] Which he had by a former wife, as some think.

It did eat of his own meat. ] Heb., Morsel; he spared it out of his own belly for his favoured lamb; neither was anything good to him, whereof his wife had not part.

And lay in his bosom. ] Where he nourished and cherished her, Eph 5:29 as the hen doth her chickens, or as the cock pigeon doth the eggs.

And was unto him as a daughter. ] Yea, much dearer. The greater was her disloyalty against so loving a husband, and so gallant a man: the more heinous also was David’s offence in wronging and robbing him of such an only jewel.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

meat = morsel.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

one little: 2Sa 11:3, Pro 5:18, Pro 5:19

meat: Heb. morsel

lay in his: Deu 13:6, Mic 7:5

Reciprocal: Deu 28:54 – and toward 1Ki 1:2 – lie Joh 13:23 – leaning Eph 5:25 – love

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge