2 Samuel 12:20

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then David {H1732} arose {H6965} from the earth {H776}, and washed {H7364}, and anointed {H5480} himself, and changed {H2498} his apparel {H8071}, and came {H935} into the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and worshipped {H7812}: then he came {H935} to his own house {H1004}; and when he required {H7592}, they set {H7760} bread {H3899} before him, and he did eat {H398}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then David got up off the ground, washed, anointed himself and changed his clothes. He went into the house of ADONAI and worshipped; then he went to his own palace; and when he asked for food, they served it to him; and he ate.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
David's immediate and unexpected shift from intense mourning to ritual purification, worship, and eating after the death of his infant son demonstrates profound acceptance of God's sovereign will, a deep-seated faith that transcends circumstances, and a humble submission to divine judgment, even amidst personal tragedy. This pivotal moment reveals David's spiritual maturity and his understanding that while intercession is vital, ultimate surrender to God's decreed outcome is the path of true worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks a dramatic turning point in the narrative of David's life, immediately following the death of the child conceived in adultery with Bathsheba. The preceding verses detail David's desperate, week-long period of fasting, weeping, and lying prostrate on the ground, interceding for the child's life ([2 Samuel 12:16-17](/2_samuel/12-16 "2 Samuel 12:16-17 - David's Desperate Plea for His Son")). His servants, anticipating continued or even intensified mourning, are utterly bewildered by his sudden shift to ritual cleansing and worship. This abrupt transition sets up David's profound theological explanation in [2 Samuel 12:22-23](/2_samuel/12-22 "2 Samuel 12:22-23 - David's Explanation of His Actions"), where he articulates the rationale behind his actions, demonstrating a mature understanding of prayer, divine sovereignty, and the nature of the afterlife. The verse also serves as a bridge, moving from the direct consequences of David's sin to the subsequent events, including the birth of Solomon ([2 Samuel 12:24](/2_samuel/12-24 "2 Samuel 12:24 - The Birth of Solomon")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, intense public mourning, including fasting, wearing sackcloth, lying on the ground, and abstaining from anointing or washing, was a customary and expected response to death, especially the death of a child. The period of mourning typically lasted seven days, and specific rituals were observed to signify grief and defilement. Conversely, washing, anointing with oil, and changing clothes were practices associated with ending a period of mourning, returning to normal social life, or preparing for sacred activities. Entering "the house of the LORD" (likely the tabernacle, as the Temple had not yet been built) for worship was a central act of piety. David's actions, while culturally understood as marking the *end* of mourning, were performed *immediately* upon the child's death, defying his servants' expectations and highlighting his unique spiritual perspective.

* **Key Themes:** [2 Samuel 12:20](/2_samuel/12-20 "2 Samuel 12:20 - David's Response to His Son's Death") powerfully illustrates several key themes within the broader narrative of [2 Samuel](/2_samuel/1 "The Book of 2 Samuel"). Foremost is the theme of **divine sovereignty and human submission**. Despite David's fervent prayers, God's decree stood, and David's response demonstrates an acceptance of God's ultimate authority, even in judgment. This highlights the nature of prayer as supplication rather than demand. Another crucial theme is **the nature of true worship**, which David exemplifies as an act of profound reverence and submission to God regardless of circumstances, contrasting with a transactional view of faith. The passage also touches on **grief and resilience**, showing a divinely enabled capacity to move through profound sorrow with faith, rather than being consumed by it. Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of **hope beyond death**, which David explicitly articulates in [2 Samuel 12:23](/2_samuel/12-23 "2 Samuel 12:23 - David's Hope for Reunion"), foreshadowing a deeper understanding of life after death than commonly portrayed in Old Testament narratives.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Arose (Hebrew, _qum'_):** This verb signifies not merely standing up physically but often implies a decisive action, a rising to a new state or purpose. Here, it marks a definitive break from his previous posture of prostration and lament, signaling a shift in his spiritual and emotional state. It's a purposeful act of transition.
* **Worshipped (Hebrew, _shachah'_):** This term denotes a profound act of bowing down or prostrating oneself in reverence and submission. It is the same posture David had adopted in lament, but now it is directed in adoration and humble acceptance before the LORD, signifying a profound spiritual shift from desperate plea to reverent surrender.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed [himself], and changed his apparel":** This sequence of actions represents a deliberate and culturally recognized ritual for ending a period of mourning and defilement. "Arising from the earth" signifies the cessation of his prostration and intense supplication. "Washing" and "anointing himself" were acts of purification and preparation, contrasting sharply with the disheveled appearance of one in mourning. "Changing his apparel" further emphasizes this transition, putting off the garments of sorrow and putting on clean, perhaps even festive, clothes, signaling a return to normalcy and social engagement.
* **"and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped":** This is the most significant and surprising part of David's response. Instead of retreating into private grief or further lament, his immediate impulse is to seek the presence of God. His act of "worship" here is not born of joy or relief, but of deep reverence and submission to God's sovereign will, even in the face of profound loss and judgment. It demonstrates a faith that acknowledges God's goodness and justice regardless of personal circumstances.
* **"then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat":** This final sequence completes David's return to normal life. After fulfilling his spiritual duty in the house of the LORD, he returns to his personal dwelling. The act of "eating bread" signifies the breaking of his fast and the resumption of regular sustenance, further cementing his transition out of the intense period of mourning. It shows a disciplined and faith-filled return to the responsibilities and rhythms of life.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several literary devices to underscore David's remarkable response. The most prominent is **Contrast**, highlighting the stark difference between David's intense, week-long prostration and fasting *before* the child's death, and his immediate, ritualized purification and worship *after* the death. This contrast is amplified by the **Irony** of the servants' expectations, who anticipate continued mourning but witness a profound shift, underscoring David's unique spiritual perspective. The sequence of actions—washing, anointing, changing clothes, worshipping, eating—functions as a powerful **Symbolism** of transition, purification, and acceptance. Each act is a deliberate step away from the state of mourning and towards a posture of faith and submission. The narrative also uses **Foreshadowing**, as David's actions here, particularly his worship and eating, anticipate his later explanation in [2 Samuel 12:23](/2_samuel/12-23 "2 Samuel 12:23 - David's Hope for Reunion"), where he articulates his hope of reunion with the child, revealing a deeper theological understanding of life and death.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
David's response in [2 Samuel 12:20](/2_samuel/12-20 "2 Samuel 12:20 - David's Response to His Son's Death") offers a profound theological lesson on the nature of faith, prayer, and divine sovereignty. It illustrates that while fervent prayer is essential and commanded, true faith ultimately submits to God's will when it becomes clear, even if that will involves sorrow. David's worship, immediately following the death of his son, is not a celebration of the outcome but an affirmation of God's unchanging character—His justice, His sovereignty, and His continued worthiness of praise, even in the midst of pain. This demonstrates a mature faith that transcends immediate circumstances, finding its anchor in the unshakeable nature of God Himself. It teaches that worship is not merely a response to blessings but a posture of the heart that acknowledges God's reign over all of life's experiences, both joyous and grievous.

* [Job 1:20-21](/job/1-20 "Job 1:20-21 - Job's Response to Loss")
* [Psalm 30:5](/psalms/30-5 "Psalm 30:5 - Weeping May Last for a Night")
* [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - God's Mercies Are New Every Morning")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
David's actions in [2 Samuel 12:20](/2_samuel/12-20 "2 Samuel 12:20 - David's Response to His Son's Death") provide a powerful model for navigating profound loss and disappointment within a framework of faith. While David's initial, desperate plea for his son's life was a natural and righteous expression of a father's love and hope in God's mercy, his subsequent pivot to acceptance and worship upon the child's death reveals a profound spiritual maturity. This teaches us that there is a time for fervent intercession, and there is a time for humble submission to God's sovereign plan. It encourages us to find our strength not in the outcome we desire, but in the unchanging character of God. In our own lives, whether facing personal tragedy, unfulfilled prayers, or deep sorrow, David's example calls us to move beyond despair to a place of worship and trust, recognizing that God remains good and worthy of our adoration, even when His ways are mysterious or painful. This transition is not about denying grief, but about anchoring it in an unshakeable faith that allows us to rise, cleanse ourselves, and continue walking with God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do you typically respond when your earnest prayers are not answered in the way you hoped?**
* **In what ways can worship be an act of submission and trust, even in times of deep sorrow or disappointment?**
* **What practical steps can you take to "arise" and move forward in faith when facing profound loss or a clear "no" from God?**

### FAQ
**Why did David suddenly stop mourning and worship God?**

Answer: David's actions, though surprising to his servants, were a profound demonstration of his faith and understanding of divine sovereignty. While his son was alive, David had reason to intercede and plead for God's mercy, believing God *could* change His mind ([2 Samuel 12:22](/2_samuel/12-22 "2 Samuel 12:22 - David's Hope for Mercy")). However, once the child died, the divine decree was clear and irreversible. For David, continued fasting and lament would have been a futile attempt to manipulate God or a denial of God's ultimate authority. Instead, he chose to accept God's will, purify himself from the defilement associated with death, and immediately enter into worship. This was an act of humble submission, acknowledging God's justice and sovereignty even in judgment. It showed that his worship was not contingent on favorable outcomes but on God's inherent worthiness.

**Was David's grief genuine if he moved on so quickly?**

Answer: Absolutely. David's week-long, intense period of prostration, fasting, and weeping ([2 Samuel 12:16-17](/2_samuel/12-16 "2 Samuel 12:16-17 - David's Desperate Plea for His Son")) clearly demonstrates the depth of his genuine grief and anguish. His actions in [2 Samuel 12:20](/2_samuel/12-20 "2 Samuel 12:20 - David's Response to His Son's Death") were not a denial of his sorrow but a deliberate, faith-filled transition. In ancient Israel, washing, anointing, and changing clothes were customary rituals for *ending* a period of mourning. David was not suppressing his grief but actively choosing to move through it by submitting to God's will and resuming the responsibilities of life and worship. His later explanation in [2 Samuel 12:23](/2_samuel/12-23 "2 Samuel 12:23 - David's Hope for Reunion") further confirms his deep love for his child and his hope of reunion, demonstrating that his acceptance was rooted in faith, not an absence of feeling.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
David's response in [2 Samuel 12:20](/2_samuel/12-20 "2 Samuel 12:20 - David's Response to His Son's Death"), particularly his act of worship in the face of profound loss, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate submission and trust exemplified by Jesus Christ. While David submitted to the Father's will regarding the death of his son, Jesus, the perfect Son, submitted to the Father's will even unto His own death on the cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed with intense anguish, "not my will, but yours be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Luke 22:42 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")), mirroring David's fervent prayer for mercy, yet ultimately surrendering to the divine plan. Just as David arose from his prostration to worship and resume life, Christ, after His sacrificial death, rose from the grave, triumphing over sin and death ([Romans 6:9-10](/romans/6-9 "Romans 6:9-10 - Christ's Resurrection and New Life")), offering eternal life and hope to all who believe. David's hope of being reunited with his child ([2 Samuel 12:23](/2_samuel/12-23 "2 Samuel 12:23 - David's Hope for Reunion")) finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who promises resurrection and eternal communion with God for all His followers ([John 14:1-3](/john/14-1 "John 14:1-3 - Jesus Promises to Return")). Thus, David's act of faith in the face of death points forward to the greater faith of Christ, whose death and resurrection provide the ultimate answer to human suffering and the promise of a future beyond earthly sorrow.

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

Job 1:20

¶ Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

Ruth 3:3

Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: [but] make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.

Lamentations 3:39

Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?

Lamentations 3:41

Let us lift up our heart with [our] hands unto God in the heavens.

Matthew 6:17

But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

Job 2:10

But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Ecclesiastes 9:8

Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.