2 Samuel 12:4
ESV
Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man 's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him."
NIV
"Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."
NASB
Now a visitor came to the wealthy man, And he could not bring himself to take any animal from his own flock or his own herd, To prepare for the traveler who had come to him; So he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.'
CSB
Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man could not bring himself to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.
NLT
One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.'
KJV
And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.
NKJV
And a traveler came to the rich man, who refused to take from his own flock and from his own herd to prepare one for the wayfaring man who had come to him; but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
What does 2 Samuel 12:4 mean?
Nathan is telling David a story about a man wronged by his rich neighbor. A traveler arrived at the rich man's house. Though the rich neighbor has sheep and cows to spare, he steals his poor neighbor's only beloved pet lamb, butchers her, and feeds her to the visitor (2 Samuel 12:1–3).David is incensed. He was a shepherd. He gave hours to his sheep, tending their wounds and making sure they had enough to eat and drink. Numerous times, he risked his life saving them from wild beasts (1 Samuel 17:34–36). The idea that this well-stocked man would steal a defenseless lamb from someone who loved her triggers David's protectiveness and his sense of justice. He insists that the rich man repay the poor man four times over, even though he deserves death (2 Samuel 12:5–6)!
With that declaration, Nathan will know David is ready for the truth. David is the rich man (2 Samuel 12:7). He took the thing Uriah loved most: his innocent, powerless wife Bathsheba. David separated them first by adultery and then by death (2 Samuel 11). Ironically, David has also been the poor man in this story. He faithfully served King Saul for years. When Saul's jealousy overcame his wisdom, Saul tried to kill David. He didn't succeed, but he did drive David out and gave his wife, Michal, to another man (1 Samuel 19:1–17; 25:44).
We don't know if David ever makes this connection, but he does understand the bigger picture. His sin against Bathsheba and Uriah is great. His sin against God is infinite. He has despised the blessings God has given him—including his responsibility to treat his people justly. He can only beg God for forgiveness (Psalm 51).
