After David’s affair and the prophet Nathan’s rebuke, the child conceived in adultery became mortally ill.
Then it happened that after Nathan confronted King David about his sin, the scripture says: Then the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, so that he was very sick (v.15). This verse describes how God brought a severe illness upon the child born to David and Bathsheba—referred to here as Uriah’s widow because Bathsheba had been Uriah’s wife until Uriah had been unjustly put to death (2 Samuel 11:14-17). Historically, David reigned as the second king of Israel from around 1010 - 970 BC, and this event took place after the prophet Nathan exposed David’s sin of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:1).
Even though David had confessed his sin and was forgiven by the Lord (2 Samuel 12:13), God declared through Nathan that the ill-conceived child would not live. Thus, the LORD struck the child … so that he was very sick (v.15) shows the sobering consequence David still faced because of his wrongdoing. David pleaded, fasted, and prayed for his child, but the child’s condition served as a difficult demonstration of how even forgiven sin can carry tragic effects (2 Samuel 12:16-18).
David’s repentance and response to these events appears in places such as Psalm 51, which he wrote after his sin (Psalm 51 intro). This shows God’s mercy in granting David personal restoration, yet also reveals how disobedience to God can result in real-life repercussions that affect even loved ones.
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2 Samuel 12:15 meaning
Then it happened that after Nathan confronted King David about his sin, the scripture says: Then the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s widow bore to David, so that he was very sick (v.15). This verse describes how God brought a severe illness upon the child born to David and Bathsheba—referred to here as Uriah’s widow because Bathsheba had been Uriah’s wife until Uriah had been unjustly put to death (2 Samuel 11:14-17). Historically, David reigned as the second king of Israel from around 1010 - 970 BC, and this event took place after the prophet Nathan exposed David’s sin of adultery and murder (2 Samuel 12:1).
Even though David had confessed his sin and was forgiven by the Lord (2 Samuel 12:13), God declared through Nathan that the ill-conceived child would not live. Thus, the LORD struck the child … so that he was very sick (v.15) shows the sobering consequence David still faced because of his wrongdoing. David pleaded, fasted, and prayed for his child, but the child’s condition served as a difficult demonstration of how even forgiven sin can carry tragic effects (2 Samuel 12:16-18).
David’s repentance and response to these events appears in places such as Psalm 51, which he wrote after his sin (Psalm 51 intro). This shows God’s mercy in granting David personal restoration, yet also reveals how disobedience to God can result in real-life repercussions that affect even loved ones.