John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 6. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold , etc.] Which was according to the law in ( Exodus 22:1); but Kimchi thinks, because the word is of the dual number, it signifies double the number, and that the sentence was to restore eight lambs, because he being a rich man stole from the poor man; so Mr. Weemse renders it, twice four, twice as much as was commanded in the law; for the Hebrews, he observes, double in the dual number till they come to seven: because he did this thing ; committed this theft: and because he had no pity ; on the poor man, but took his all. The Jews observe, that accordingly David was punished with the loss of four of his children, that which was born of Bathsheba, Ammon, Tamar, and Absalom; so most of the commentators, but Ben Gersom, instead of Tamar, has Adonijah.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - God will not suffer his people to lie still in sin. By this parabl Nathan drew from David a sentence against himself. Great need there is of prudence in giving reproofs. In his application, he was faithful. He says in plain terms, Thou art the man. God shows how much he hates sin even in his own people; and wherever he finds it, he will not let it go unpunished. David says not a word to excuse himself or make light of his sin, but freely owns it. When David said, I have sinned, and Natha perceived that he was a true penitent, he assured him his sin wa forgiven. Thou shalt not die: that is, not die eternally, nor be for ever put away from God, as thou wouldest have been, if thou hadst no put away the sin. Though thou shalt all thy days be chastened of the Lord, yet thou shalt not be condemned with the world. There is thi great evil in the sins of those who profess religion and relation to God, that they furnish the enemies of God and religion with matter for reproach and blasphemy. And it appears from David's case, that eve where pardon is obtained, the Lord will visit the transgression of his people with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. For one momentar gratification of a vile lust, David had to endure many days and year of extreme distress.
Original Hebrew ואת853 הכבשׂה3535 ישׁלם7999 ארבעתים706 עקב6118 אשׁר834 עשׂה6213 את853 הדבר1697 הזה2088 ועל5921 אשׁר834 לא3808 חמל׃2550
