2 samuel 12:4 - A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
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What does "2 samuel 12:4" mean?
This verse, from 2 Samuel 12:4, is part of a parable told by the prophet Nathan to King David after David committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the death of her husband, Uriah. It's a powerful allegory meant to expose David's sin.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"A traveler came to the rich man...": The "rich man" represents King David, who had immense power and resources. The "traveler" represents David's desire (or lust) for Bathsheba.
"...and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him...": This means David had plenty of resources (wives, servants, land, power) at his disposal. He could have satisfied his desires without harming anyone.
"...but took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.": The "poor man" represents Uriah, who had only one "lamb" - his wife, Bathsheba, who was precious and beloved to him. The rich man, David, took this "lamb" (Bathsheba) and essentially "consumed" it to satisfy his own desires, even though the poor man relied on it and it was all he had.
Overall Meaning:
The parable is a carefully constructed comparison that exposes the injustice of David's actions. David, with all his power and possessions, could have found satisfaction without resorting to taking what belonged to someone else, especially someone with so little. The "lamb" represents something cherished and essential to the poor man, highlighting the devastating consequences of David's selfishness and abuse of power.
The purpose of the parable is to:
1. Confront David with his sin: Nathan avoids directly accusing David at first, instead engaging him in a hypothetical situation.
2. Evoke David's sense of justice: Nathan wants David to condemn the act described in the parable, thereby condemning himself.
3. Reveal the depth of David's wrongdoing: By making David recognize the injustice of the parable, Nathan makes him understand the severity of his own actions.
4. Open the door to repentance: Once David recognizes his sin, he is more likely to repent and seek forgiveness.
The verse is a poignant depiction of the abuse of power, the disregard for the vulnerable, and the devastating consequences of selfish actions. It's a timeless reminder that even those in positions of authority are accountable for their choices and that true justice requires protecting the innocent and vulnerable.
2 samuel 12:4 - A traveler came to the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
What does "2 samuel 12:4" mean?
This verse, from 2 Samuel 12:4, is part of a parable told by the prophet Nathan to King David after David committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the death of her husband, Uriah. It's a powerful allegory meant to expose David's sin.
Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"A traveler came to the rich man...": The "rich man" represents King David, who had immense power and resources. The "traveler" represents David's desire (or lust) for Bathsheba.
"...and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him...": This means David had plenty of resources (wives, servants, land, power) at his disposal. He could have satisfied his desires without harming anyone.
"...but took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him.": The "poor man" represents Uriah, who had only one "lamb" - his wife, Bathsheba, who was precious and beloved to him. The rich man, David, took this "lamb" (Bathsheba) and essentially "consumed" it to satisfy his own desires, even though the poor man relied on it and it was all he had.
Overall Meaning:
The parable is a carefully constructed comparison that exposes the injustice of David's actions. David, with all his power and possessions, could have found satisfaction without resorting to taking what belonged to someone else, especially someone with so little. The "lamb" represents something cherished and essential to the poor man, highlighting the devastating consequences of David's selfishness and abuse of power.
The purpose of the parable is to:
1. Confront David with his sin: Nathan avoids directly accusing David at first, instead engaging him in a hypothetical situation.
2. Evoke David's sense of justice: Nathan wants David to condemn the act described in the parable, thereby condemning himself.
3. Reveal the depth of David's wrongdoing: By making David recognize the injustice of the parable, Nathan makes him understand the severity of his own actions.
4. Open the door to repentance: Once David recognizes his sin, he is more likely to repent and seek forgiveness.
The verse is a poignant depiction of the abuse of power, the disregard for the vulnerable, and the devastating consequences of selfish actions. It's a timeless reminder that even those in positions of authority are accountable for their choices and that true justice requires protecting the innocent and vulnerable.