2 Samuel 12:20

Praise and worship Grief Faith Death and loss

¹⁸ On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.”

¹⁹ When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” “He is dead,” they replied.

Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.

²¹ “What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.”

²² David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate.
KJV: Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
WEB: Then David arose from the earth, and washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothing; and he came into the LORD’s house, and worshiped. Then he came to his own house; and when he requested, they set bread before him and he ate.
ASV: Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel; and he came into the house of Jehovah, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
DARBY: Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothing, and entered into the house of Jehovah and worshipped; then he came to his own house and required them to set bread before him, and he ate.
BLB: And David arose from the ground, and he washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes, and he went into the house of YHWH and worshiped. And he went to his own house, and he requested, and they set before him food, and he ate.

ÅB: Da sto David opp fra jorden og vasket seg og salvet seg og skiftet klær og gikk inn i Herrens hus og tilba. Så gikk han hjem igjen og ba om mat, og de satte mat fram for ham, og han spiste.
OTB: Så reiste David seg fra jorden, vasket seg, salvet seg, og skiftet klær; og han kom inn i Herrens hus og tilbad. Så kom han til sitt eget hus, og da han ba om det, serverte de ham mat og han spiste.
B1930: Da stod David op fra jorden og tvettet sig og salvet sig og skiftet klær og gikk inn i Herrens hus og tilbad. Så gikk han hjem igjen og bad om mat, og de satte mat frem for ham, og han åt.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Job 1:20
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,
Read in context
Ruth 3:3
Therefore wash yourself, put on perfume, and wear your best clothes. Go down to the threshing floor, but do not let the man know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.
Read in context
Lamentations 3:39–41
Why should any mortal man complain, in view of his sins?
Read in context
Job 2:10
“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Read in context
Ecclesiastes 9:8
Let your garments always be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
Read in context
2 Samuel 7:18
Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?
Read in context
Matthew 6:17
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Read in context
2 Samuel 6:17
So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
Read in context