Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriahâs wife to be your own.
âThis is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.â
Then David confessed to Nathan, âI have sinned against the LORD.â
Nathan replied, âYes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you wonât die for this sin. Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD by doing this, your child will die.â
After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriahâs wife. David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused.
Then on the seventh day the child died. Davidâs advisers were afraid to tell him. âHe wouldnât listen to reason while the child was ill,â they said. âWhat drastic thing will he do when we tell him the child is dead?â
When David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. âIs the child dead?â he asked.
âYes,â they replied, âhe is dead.â
Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. He went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the LORD. After that, he returned to the palace and was served food and ate.
His advisers were amazed. âWe donât understand you,â they told him. âWhile the child was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the child is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again.â
David replied, âI fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, âPerhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.â But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.â
Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and David named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet that they should name him Jedidiah (which means âbeloved of the LORDâ), as the LORD had commanded.