2 Samuel 12:17

KJV

And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the elders {H2205} of his house {H1004} arose {H6965}, and went to him, to raise him up {H6965} from the earth {H776}: but he would {H14} not, neither did he eat {H1262} bread {H3899} with them.

Complete Jewish Bible

The court officials got up and stood next to him trying to get him off the ground, but he refused, and he wouldn't eat food with them.

Berean Standard Bible

The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them.

American Standard Version

And the elders of his house arose, and stood beside him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Samuel 12:17 profoundly illustrates King David's deep and unwavering penitence following the prophet Nathan's severe rebuke. With the child born of his illicit union with Bathsheba gravely ill, David lay prostrate on the ground in desperate supplication, refusing all comfort and sustenance. This verse captures the compassionate yet ultimately futile efforts of his household elders to raise him and encourage him to eat, highlighting David's resolute commitment to his posture of intense grief and fervent prayer before God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at a critical and somber juncture in David's life and reign, immediately following the devastating confrontation with the prophet Nathan. In [2 Samuel 12:1-15](/2_samuel/12-1-15 "2 Samuel 12:1-15 - Nathan's Parable and Rebuke"), Nathan delivers God's indictment against David for his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah the Hittite. As a direct consequence of David's sin, God declares that "the sword shall never depart from your house" ([2 Samuel 12:10](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10 - The Sword Will Never Depart")) and that the child born of the illicit union "shall surely die" ([2 Samuel 12:14](/2_samuel/12-14 "2 Samuel 12:14 - The Child Will Die")). David's response, beginning in [2 Samuel 12:16](/2_samuel/12-16 "2 Samuel 12:16 - David's Fasting for His Child"), is one of intense personal anguish and desperate intercession, marked by fasting and prostration. Verse 17 specifically details the attempts of his household to intervene, setting the stage for the child's death in [2 Samuel 12:18](/2_samuel/12-18 "2 Samuel 12:18 - The Child Dies") and David's surprising shift in demeanor thereafter.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, lying prostrate on the ground (often accompanied by sackcloth and ashes) was a profound and widely recognized expression of deep mourning, intense grief, desperate supplication, or utter humility before God. It symbolized a complete abasement of self, an acknowledgment of one's lowliness, and an earnest plea for divine mercy. Fasting, too, was a common practice associated with repentance, mourning, and intense prayer, signifying a withdrawal from earthly comforts to focus entirely on spiritual matters. The elders of David's house, as respected figures of wisdom and authority, would naturally attempt to comfort and care for their king during such a crisis, reflecting the communal support expected during times of lament. Their efforts to "raise him up from the earth" and encourage him to eat were culturally appropriate attempts to break his fast and bring him out of his extreme state of grief, highlighting the depth of David's resolve in his penitential posture.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within [2 Samuel](/2_samuel/1 "2 Samuel - The Reign of King David") and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the theme of **Profound Repentance and Grief**, as David's physical posture and refusal to eat vividly portray the depth of his sorrow and his desperate plea for the child's life, signifying ultimate humility and brokenness before God. It also highlights the **Consequences of Sin**, demonstrating that even after confession and divine forgiveness, there can be painful and lasting earthly repercussions for one's actions, as prophesied in [2 Samuel 12:10](/2_samuel/12-10 "2 Samuel 12:10 - The Sword Will Never Depart") and [2 Samuel 12:14](/2_samuel/12-14 "2 Samuel 12:14 - The Child Will Die"). Furthermore, David's actions exemplify the theme of **Fasting and Supplication**, showcasing it as a biblical practice of earnestly seeking God in times of severe crisis, a desperate cry for mercy. Finally, the interaction with the elders subtly emphasizes the tension between **Human Comfort vs. Divine Will**, as the compassionate efforts of David's household are ultimately ineffectual against God's determined plan regarding the child's fate, underscoring the sovereignty of God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **elders (Hebrew, _zâqên'_):** Derived from the root meaning "old," this term refers to the respected, older, and authoritative figures within a community or household. In this context, they are the senior members of David's royal household, likely advisors or trusted servants, whose role would include offering counsel and comfort to the king. Their initiative to approach David underscores their concern for his well-being and their attempt to fulfill their customary duty of care.
* **raise him up (Hebrew, _qûwm'_):** This primitive root means "to rise," "to stand," or "to establish" in various applications. Here, it signifies an attempt to physically lift David from his prostrate position on the ground, thereby ending his extreme posture of mourning and supplication. It implies an effort to restore him to a more normal, upright state, both physically and perhaps emotionally, in an attempt to break his fast and grief.
* **would not (Hebrew, _ʼâbâh'_):** This verb, meaning "to breathe after," figuratively conveys "to be acquiescent," "to consent," or "to be willing." When combined with the negative particle "not" (implied in the KJV translation "would not"), it expresses David's absolute and unwavering refusal. It highlights his resolute determination to maintain his penitential posture, indicating that his actions were not merely a spontaneous outburst of grief but a deeply intentional act of will and supplication.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him":** This phrase establishes the initiative taken by David's senior household members. Seeing their king in such a state of distress, they felt compelled to act, demonstrating their loyalty, concern, and the cultural expectation of providing support during a time of extreme mourning. Their "arising" suggests a deliberate and purposeful approach to the king.
* **"to raise him up from the earth":** This specifies the elders' immediate objective. David was lying prostrate, a posture of extreme humility and desperation. The elders sought to physically lift him, thereby attempting to break his fast and bring him out of this intense state of supplication, which was likely seen as unhealthy or excessive by human standards.
* **"but he would not":** This is the crucial turning point in the verse, highlighting David's firm and unyielding resolve. Despite the authority and concern of his elders, David adamantly refused their efforts. His will was set on continuing his posture of penitence and prayer, indicating the depth of his internal anguish and his singular focus on appealing to God's mercy.
* **"neither did he eat bread with them":** This clause further emphasizes David's steadfast refusal to accept comfort or sustenance. His continued fast was an integral part of his supplication, signifying his complete dependence on God and his rejection of any earthly alleviation from his sorrow. Eating "with them" would have implied a return to normalcy and communal life, which David was unwilling to do while his child's life hung in the balance.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Contrast** by juxtaposing David's profound, solitary grief and unwavering penitence with the elders' well-intentioned but ultimately ineffectual attempts at comfort and normalcy. David's internal spiritual battle is externalized through his physical posture, creating a stark visual contrast with the elders' active, social intervention. **Symbolism** is also central: David's act of lying on the earth is a powerful symbol of utter humility, abasement, and desperate supplication, while his refusal to eat symbolizes his intense focus on spiritual matters and his rejection of earthly comforts in the face of divine judgment. This physical manifestation of his inner state makes his repentance tangible. Furthermore, the verse contains an element of **Foreshadowing**, as David's unwavering resolve in his current state of supplication subtly anticipates his surprising and immediate acceptance of God's will once the child dies, as seen in [2 Samuel 12:20](/2_samuel/12-20 "2 Samuel 12:20 - David's Shift After the Child's Death").

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse offers profound theological insights into the nature of repentance, divine sovereignty, and human supplication. David's extreme posture and refusal to eat demonstrate a genuine, deep-seated contrition that goes beyond mere verbal confession. It illustrates that true repentance often involves a profound internal anguish, a "godly grief" that seeks to align one's will with God's, even in the face of painful consequences. While David's fervent prayer and fasting did not reverse God's decree concerning the child's death, his actions underscore the biblical principle of earnestly seeking God's mercy, even when the outcome is uncertain. It also highlights the limits of human comfort and intervention when confronted with the sovereign will of God, reminding us that ultimately, our plea is to the Divine.

* [Psalm 51:17](/psalms/51-17 "A Broken and Contrite Heart")
* [Joel 2:12](/joel/2-12 "Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")
* [James 5:16](/james/5-16 "The Prayer of a Righteous Person")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's response in 2 Samuel 12:17 provides a powerful model for believers wrestling with the consequences of sin and the weight of grief. His deep and visible sorrow, expressed through prostration and fasting, serves as a poignant reminder that genuine repentance is not superficial but involves a profound, heartfelt brokenness before God. It challenges us to consider the sincerity of our own repentance when we fall short, urging us toward a "godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation" ([2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance")). Furthermore, David's earnest supplication, even in the face of a seemingly unchangeable divine decree, teaches us the importance of persevering prayer in times of crisis. While God's ultimate will may not always align with our desires, our fervent appeals demonstrate our dependence on Him and our faith in His mercy. Finally, David's refusal of human comfort in favor of intense spiritual focus reminds us that there are times when our deepest solace and resolution must come directly from God, even as we navigate the limits of human intervention in divine plans.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does David's posture of prostration and fasting inform our understanding of genuine repentance and earnest prayer?**
* **In what ways do we sometimes resist comfort or sustenance when deeply grieving, and what does this reveal about our spiritual state?**
* **How can we balance fervent prayer for a desired outcome with an ultimate submission to God's sovereign will, especially when the outcome is not what we hoped for?**

### FAQ
**Why did David refuse to eat or rise, despite the elders' efforts?**

Answer: David's refusal was a deliberate and profound act of penitence and desperate supplication. He was in a state of intense spiritual anguish, fasting and prostrating himself before God in a desperate plea for the life of his child, whom he knew was suffering due to his own sin. His refusal to eat or be comforted by the elders signified his complete absorption in this act of humility and intercession. He was not merely grieving but actively seeking God's mercy, believing that perhaps God would "be gracious to me, that the child may live" ([2 Samuel 12:16](/2_samuel/12-16 "2 Samuel 12:16 - David's Fasting for His Child")). For David, earthly comfort was secondary to his spiritual quest for divine intervention.

**What was the role of the elders in this situation?**

Answer: The elders of David's house acted out of concern and cultural expectation. As respected figures within his household, their role was to offer counsel, comfort, and support to the king, especially during a time of such profound distress. Their attempts to "raise him up from the earth" and encourage him to eat were typical responses to someone in deep mourning and fasting, aimed at restoring a measure of normalcy and providing physical sustenance. Their efforts, though well-intentioned, highlight the intensity of David's personal struggle and his unwavering commitment to his penitential posture, demonstrating that his spiritual anguish transcended conventional human comfort.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's profound suffering and desperate supplication in 2 Samuel 12:17, while deeply personal and tied to his own sin, subtly foreshadow the ultimate suffering and intercession of Jesus Christ. David, a king, lies prostrate in humility and anguish, bearing the consequences of his own transgression which led to the child's illness and death. This human king's inability to avert the decreed consequence of sin, despite his fervent prayer, points to the profound need for a perfect, divine sacrifice. Jesus, the true King, would later humble himself, not for His own sin, but for ours, taking on the ultimate prostration of the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - He Humbled Himself")). While David's intercession for his child was unsuccessful in reversing God's decree, Christ's intercession for His people is eternally effective, as He ever lives to make intercession for those who draw near to God through Him ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - He Always Lives to Intercede")). David's experience underscores the severity of sin and the necessity of a perfect Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")) who would bear the full weight of divine judgment, allowing those who believe to find forgiveness and restoration that no human king, no matter how repentant, could ever fully secure. In Christ, the consequences of sin are fully borne, and true comfort and eternal life are offered without measure ([Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4-5 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - The Suffering Servant")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 3:35

And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.

1 Samuel 28:23

But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.