2 Samuel 12 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
2 Samuel 12 Quick Summary
After David’s sin with Bathsheba, God sent Nathan the prophet to him to confront him. Nathan told David a parable about a little ewe lamb and David ended up condemning himself. Nathan announced a series of curses which would befall David’s house, including the death of David and Bathsheba’s first child.
2 Samuel 12 Summary - A Quick Overview
WHEN:
Saul died in approximately 1055 B.C., after reigning over Israel for 40 years.
David became king over Judah the same year. He reigned over Judah for 7 years and 6 months, before becoming king over all Israel. His reign over all Judah and Israel lasted 33 years.
CHARACTERS:
David – The second king over all Israel and Judah.
Uriah – A Hittite man who served as a warrior in Israel’s army. He was married to Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 11, David had him killed to cover up his affair with Bathsheba.
Bathsheba – The wife of Uriah. David had a sinful sexual relationship with her.
Nathan – A prophet of God. God sent him to David to confront him about his sin with Bathsheba.
Joab – The commander of the army of Israel.
WHERE:
David was at his house in Jerusalem.
Joab and the Israelite army fought against the Ammonites at Rabbah. After Rabbah, they conquered all the cities of the Ammonites (2 Sam 12:31).
OUTLINE:
NATHAN’S PARABLE ABOUT THE LITTLE EWE LAMB (12:1-6):
God sent His prophet, Nathan, to David, and he told him a story.
Two men lived in the same city, one rich and the other poor.
The rich man had many sheep. The poor man had only one little ewe lamb that he loved very much.
One day, guests came to visit the rich man and, instead of butchering one of his own sheep, he took the poor man’s lamb and cooked it for his guests.
After hearing the story, David became angry, saying, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die.”
NATHAN CONDEMNS DAVID’S SIN WITH BATHSHEBA (12:7-14):
Having heard the king’s condemnation, Nathan looked at David and said, “You are the man!”
Nathan reminded David how God made him king, gave him riches, and many wives, yet David thought it acceptable to murder one of his loyal servants, Uriah, to take his wife.
Nathan announced a series of curses that would fall on David’s house because of his evil.
(1) “The sword would never depart” from David’s house. His family would constantly be engaged in fighting.
(2) Other men would have relations with David’s wives, and it would be known publicly throughout Israel.
(3) The child born to David and Bathsheba would die (2 Sam 11:5).
David acknowledged his sin and accepted his punishment.
THE CHILD OF DAVID AND BATHSHEBA DIES (12:15-23):
When Bathsheba gave birth, her child became sick.
David fasted and prayed to the Lord for the child to live, but God would not withdraw His judgement, and the baby died on the 7th day.
David accepted the Lord’s decision, he anointed himself, and went into the house of the Lord to worship.
THE BIRTH OF SOLOMON (12:24-25):
Another son was born to David and Bathsheba.
They named him Solomon, but Nathan called him Jedidiah.
DAVID AND JOAB CONQUER RABBAH (12:26-31):
Joab was fighting with the Ammonites at Rabbah (2 Sam 11:1).
Realizing the city was about to fall, he invited David to the battlefield, so that the credit for the battle would go to him.
David went to Rabbah, conquered the city, and took the crown of their king.
The Ammonites were made servants to the Israelites.
APPLICATION:
David provides us with a good example of how we ought to respond when we get caught up in sin.
When confronted, he didn’t make excuses, he didn’t try to justify himself, he didn’t lash out at Nathan for rebuking him, he humbled himself and acknowledged his mistake.
He accepted that there would be consequences for his mistake, and he did his best to get his life back on track after God’s mercy was extended to him.
