1 And Yehvah sent Nathan to David, and he came in to him and said to him, “Two men came in one city. One was rich and one poor. 2 The rich had very many flocks and herds. 3 And the poor didn't have any, except one small ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished her. And she grew up with him and with his sons together. From his food she ate, and from his cup she drank. And in his bosom she lay, and was to him as a daughter.”
4 “And a traveler came in to the rich man, and he spared to take from his flock and from his herd to prepare for the wanderer who came to him. And he took the poor man's ewe lamb, and prepared her for the man who came to him.” i 5 And David's anger burned against the man and said to Nathan, “Yehvah lives. For the man who did this is a son of death. 6 And he shall restore the ewe lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity.”
7 And Nathan said to David, “You are the man. Thus Yehvah, Gods of Israel said, 'I anointed you for king over Israel, and I delivered you from Saul's hand. 8 And I gave to you your lords' house and your lords' women into your bosom, and I gave to you the house of Israel and Judah. And if too little, so I would have added to you as these and as these. ii 9 Why have you despised Yehvah's word to do the bad in his eyes. iii Uriah the Hittite you struck with the sword and took his woman for yourself for a woman. And you killed him with the sword of sons of Ammon. 10 And now, a sword will not turn aside from your house forever, because you despised me and took Uriah the Hittite's woman to be for you for a woman.'”
11 “Thus said Yehvah, 'Behold, I will raise up bad against you from your house, and I will take your women before your eyes and give to your neighbor. And he will lie with your women before the eyes of this Sun. 12 For you acted in secret, and I will do this thing before all Israel and before the Sun.”
13 And David said to Nathan, “I have sinned to Yehvah.” And Nathan said to David, “Yehvah also has caused your sin to pass. You will not die. 14 However, because of this thing Yehvah's enemies will surely despise. Also, the son born to you will surely die.”
15 And Nathan went to his house. And Yehvah struck the child whom Uriah's woman bore to David, and he became sick. 16 And David sought the Gods for the youth, and David fasted a fast. And went in and laid on the earth for the night. 17 And elders of his house arose upon him to raise him up from the earth, and he was unwilling; and did not eat bread with them.
18 And it was, on the seventh day, so the child died. And David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child died. For they said, “Behold, when the child was alive we spoke to him and he did not listen to our voice. So, how can we say to him the child died? So, he might do harm.” 19 And David saw that his servants were whispering, and David discerned that the child died. And David said to his servants, “Did the child die?” And they said, “He died.”
20 And David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed and changed his garment iv and went in Yehvah's house and worshiped. And he came in to his house and asked, and they set for him bread and he ate. 21 And his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while alive, and when the child died, you arose and ate bread?” 22 And he said, “While the child was alive I fasted and wept, for I said, 'Who knows, Yehvah may be gracious to me and the child will live.' 23 And now, he died. Why should I fast this? Am I able to bring him back again? I will go to him, and he will not return to me.”
24 And David comforted Bathsheba his woman and went in to her and lay with her, and she bore a son and he called v his name Solomon. vi And Yehvah loved him. 25 And he sent by Nathan the prophet's hand and called his name Jedidiah vii for Yehvah.
26 And Joab fought against Rabbah of sons of Ammon and captured the royal city. 27 And Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah and also captured the city of water. 28 And now, gather the rest of the people and encamp against the city and capture her, lest I capture the city and my name be called upon her.” 29 And David gathered all the people and went to Rabbah and fought against her and captured her.
30 And he took the crown of their king from upon his head and her weight was a talent of gold and precious stone, and she was upon David's head. And the spoil of the city brought out was very much. 31 And the people who were in her were brought out, and he set them to the saw and to iron cutters and iron axes. And he caused them to cross over to the brick works. And thus he did to all sons of Ammon's cities. And David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Translated by Darwin Fish. See original pdf.
- In other words, he slaughtered the poor man's lamb. ^
- In other words, more of the same – women and houses. ^
- Written ו ינו עי בע) be'êynâv) “his eyes”; read י יני עי בע) be'êynay) “my eyes” ^
- Written ממעלותוְשל) simlâto) “his garment”; read יו לתו מע מְשל) simlotâyv) “his garments” ^
- Written א רו קע מְיל) yiqrâ') “he called”; read מקערואְתל) tiqrâ') “she called” ^
- מהה שע) shelomoh) “Solomon” - see footnote for 2 Samuel 5:14. ^
- ידעיוהְיעדל) yediydyâh) “Jedidiah” = “Beloved of Yah” ^