2 Samuel 12:20
ESV
Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
NIV
Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.
NASB
So David got up from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and when he asked, they served him food, and he ate.
CSB
Then David got up from the ground. He washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went to the Lord’s house, and worshiped. Then he went home and requested something to eat. So they served him food, and he ate.
NLT
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.
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.
NKJV
So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate.
What does 2 Samuel 12:20 mean?
The Lord has emphatically and decisively said no to David's urgent request to save his son from death. David has been asking for a week, even though the Lord had revealed to him that the boy would die as a direct result of David's sin (2 Samuel 12:14, 15–19). Now that the boy has died, David rises from the ground and gets himself together once more. David washes, anoints himself with oil, and changes his clothes, things he had stopped doing while making his request.More than that, David goes to the house of the Lord, the tent where the ark of God is kept, and worships God. This is a striking demonstration of humility and submission. David has made his plea to God, and God has said no. David takes that no for God's righteous answer and refuses to become bitter. Rather than avoid the Lord's presence, David goes to the God who rejected his plea and worships Him. Finally, David abandons his fast and begins to eat again.
David didn't want the boy to die. He won't want the other curses to occur, either (2 Samuel 12:10–13). But David's priority isn't a pain-free life. Psalm 51 is David's prayer to God during this time of repentance and suffering. David's plea for his son's life is great, but his plea for God's forgiveness and restoration is greater. Even as David washes himself, he knows the only true cleansing comes from God:
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
--Psalm 51:7
