Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Samuel 12:18
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke 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?
On the seventh day; either,
1. From the beginning of the distemper. Or rather,
2. From the day of his birth, which is the most usual way of computation of mens days or years; for it is apparent that this happened during the time of Davids fasting and lying upon the earth, 2Sa 12:20, which it is not probable that it lasted for seven days.
They said, whispering among themselves, 2Sa 12:19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died,…. Not the seventh day from its being taken ill, but from its birth; for it cannot be thought that David should fast seven days:
and the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; lest he should be overwhelmed with too much sorrow:
for they said, behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him; to rise from the ground, and eat food:
and he would not hearken unto our voice; we could not prevail upon him to do the one nor the other:
how will he then vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead? or should we acquaint him with it, “he will do mischief” w to himself, to his body; he will tear his flesh to pieces, and cut and kill himself; this they were afraid of, observing the distress and agony he was in while it was living, and therefore they concluded these would increase upon hearing of its death.
w , Sept. “faciat malum”, Pagninus, Montanus; “malum [sibi] inferet”, Syr. Ar.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
2Sa 12:18. It came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died Thus was the first instance of the divine vengeance upon David’s guilt speedily and rigidly executed. Other instances of it were fulfilled in their order before his own eyes; and the dreadfullest of all the rest, the sword shall never depart from thine house, sadly and successively fulfilled in his posterity; from the death of Amnon by the order of his own brother, to the slaughter of the sons of Zedekiah by the king of Babylon. Indeed, David’s guilt was more signally and dreadfully punished in his own person and in his posterity, than any guilt that I ever heard or read of in any other person since Adam. The Jews are of opinion, that his own decree of repaying the robbery four-fold, was strictly executed upon him. And as he was professedly punished by the death of one of his sons for the murder of Uriah, they imagine that the other three also, who died violent deaths, fell so many sacrifices to the divine justice upon the same account. In this view, can David’s example be an encouragement for sin? Who would incur his guilt, to go through such a scene of sorrow and repentance?
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
(18) And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David 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?
The seventh day prevented the act of circumcision. No doubt David construed this also as a further token of God’s displeasure.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Sa 12:18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David 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?
Ver. 18. And it came to pass on the seventh day, ] viz., Of the child’s sickness, a critical day; or, After his birth, and then he died without circumcision, and yet was saved. 2Sa 12:23 Gratia non est alligata symbolis, God’s grace is not tied unto the signs.
That the child died.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
seventh day: vex, Heb. do hurt to, 2Sa 12:18, Num 20:15
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Sa 12:18. On the seventh day the child died The seventh from the beginning of the distemper. Thus was the first instance of the divine vengeance for Davids guilt speedily and rigidly executed; other instances of it were fulfilled in their order, before his own eyes, as will abundantly appear in the sequel of this history; and the most dreadful of all the rest, The sword shall never depart from thy house, sadly and successively fulfilled in his posterity; from the death of Amnon, by the order of his own brother, to the slaughter of the sons of Zedekiah before his own eyes, by the king of Babylon. We may learn from hence, therefore, that God is no respecter of persons, for Davids guilt was as signally and dreadfully punished in his own person, and in his posterity, as perhaps any guilt in any other person since Adam. The Jews are of opinion that his own decree of repaying the robbery four-fold was strictly executed upon him. The deflouring of Tamar by her own brother; the death of four sons, three of them before his own eyes, and one by the hand of his brother; the unnatural rebellion of one son, which brought him almost to the brink of ruin; the prostitution of ten wives in the sight of all his subjects; and the successive and signal massacre of his posterity; besides the distress of his own public shame and infamy, added to at least one cruel disease. These are surely awful proofs that God did not connive at sin in David any more than in any other. Why then are the scoffers so fond of urging and dwelling on the heinous crimes of David? Do the Holy Scriptures deny them? No, they set them forth with all their aggravating circumstances, but at the same time they assure us they were followed by such a train of calamities as is enough to make every sinner tremble; since it affords an indubitable proof that the ALMIGHTY GOVERNOR of the world is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity without detestation, and that every species of vice and wickedness, in whomsoever it is found, will certainly be punished under his government. Let the reader consider these things, and then say, whether Davids example be an encouragement to sin? Who would incur his guilt to go through such a scene of sorrow and suffering? See Delaney.