Nathan (2 Samuel 7:2–3; 2 Samuel 7:4–5; 2 Samuel 7:11; 2 Samuel 7:17; 2 Samuel 12:1–4; 2 Samuel 12:7; 2 Samuel 12:9; 2 Samuel 12:13–15; 2 Samuel 12:25; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:11–14; 1 Kings 1:24; 1 Kings 1:32–34; 1 Kings 1:38; 1 Kings 1:45; 1 Chronicles 17:3–4; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25; Psalms 51:1)

The Prophet in David's Court

Nathan the prophet, to whom David spoke of his house of cedar and the ark within curtains, whom the LORD sent to David with the parable of the ewe lamb, and who with Zadok anointed Solomon king at Gihon.

Scripture first names him when the king said to “Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains” (2 Samuel 7:2). Nathan answered, “Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee” (2 Samuel 7:3). “The same night … the word of Jehovah came unto Nathan” (2 Samuel 7:4), and the word was for David: “Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in?” (2 Samuel 7:5), with the promise that “Jehovah will make thee a house” (2 Samuel 7:11). Of what followed, the text says, “According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David” (2 Samuel 7:17).

After David's sin with Bath-sheba and against Uriah, “Jehovah sent Nathan unto David” (2 Samuel 12:1). Nathan told of a rich man who took a poor man's one ewe lamb, and when David's anger was kindled against that man, said, “Thou art the man” (2 Samuel 12:7). When David said, “I have sinned against Jehovah” (2 Samuel 12:13), Nathan answered, “Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (2 Samuel 12:13), and added that the child born to David should surely die (2 Samuel 12:14). The title of Psalm 51 names him: “A Psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba” (Psalms 51:1). When Solomon was born, “Jehovah loved him; and he sent by the hand of Nathan the prophet; and he called his name Jedidiah, for Jehovah’s sake” (2 Samuel 12:24-25).

When Adonijah exalted himself, saying “I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5), “Nathan the prophet” (1 Kings 1:8) was among those not with him (1 Kings 1:8). Nathan spoke to Bath-sheba and then to David, and at the king's word he and Zadok the priest went down with Solomon to Gihon, where they “anointed him king” (1 Kings 1:45). Later books speak of “the history of Nathan the prophet” (1 Chronicles 29:29) as one place where the acts of David (1 Chronicles 29:29) and of Solomon (2 Chronicles 9:29) are written, and say that Hezekiah set the Levites in the house of the LORD “according to the commandment of David, and of Gad the king’s seer, and Nathan the prophet” (2 Chronicles 29:25). Scripture records nothing of his birth or death.

Strengths

• Spoke what the LORD gave him
• Confronted the king
• Spoke pardon as well as judgment
• Counsel to Bath-sheba
• Acted at the king's command

Themes

• The word of the LORD to the king
• The house of cedar
• Rebuke and forgiveness
• The succession of Solomon
• Prophet and priest together

Answers David about a house for the ark (2 Samuel 7:1–3; 1 Chronicles 17:1–2)

David tells Nathan he dwells in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells within curtains, and Nathan tells him to do all that is in his heart.

The word of the LORD comes to Nathan (2 Samuel 7:4–17; 1 Chronicles 17:3–15)

The same night the word of the LORD comes to Nathan with a message for David about building a house and about the house the LORD will make him, and Nathan speaks it all to David.

The parable and Thou art the man (2 Samuel 12:1–12)

The LORD sends Nathan to David; Nathan tells of a rich man who took a poor man's one ewe lamb, and when David's anger is kindled he says, Thou art the man, and speaks the LORD's charge.

The parable and Thou art the man

“And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor” (2 Samuel 12:1). The poor man “had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up … and was unto him as a daughter” (2 Samuel 12:3). The rich man, when a traveler came, “spared to take of his own flock … but took the poor man’s lamb” (2 Samuel 12:4).

“And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is worthy to die” (2 Samuel 12:5). “And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul” (2 Samuel 12:7).

“Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife” (2 Samuel 12:9). The charge ends, “For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun” (2 Samuel 12:12).

Pardon, the child's death, and Nathan departs (2 Samuel 12:13–15)

David says he has sinned against the LORD; Nathan says the LORD has put away his sin and he shall not die, but the child shall surely die, and Nathan departs to his house.

Pardon, the child's death, and Nathan departs

“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah. And Nathan said unto David, Jehovah also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (2 Samuel 12:13).

“Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Jehovah to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die” (2 Samuel 12:14).

“And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick” (2 Samuel 12:15).

Jedidiah (2 Samuel 12:24–25)

Bath-sheba bears a son who is named Solomon, and the LORD loves him; by the hand of Nathan the prophet he is called Jedidiah, for the LORD's sake.

Nathan speaks to Bath-sheba and to David (1 Kings 1:5–27)

While Adonijah exalts himself and calls not Nathan, Nathan tells Bath-sheba to go in to David, and then comes in himself and asks whether the king has said that Adonijah shall reign.

Nathan speaks to Bath-sheba and to David

“Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king” (1 Kings 1:5). “But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet … were not with Adonijah” (1 Kings 1:8); of the feast he made, “but Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not” (1 Kings 1:10).

“Then Nathan spake unto Bath-sheba the mother of Solomon, saying, Hast thou not heard that Adonijah the son of Haggith doth reign, and David our lord knoweth it not? Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel, that thou mayest save thine own life, and the life of thy son Solomon” (1 Kings 1:11-12). He told her what to say to the king, and said, “Behold, while thou yet talkest there with the king, I also will come in after thee, and confirm thy words” (1 Kings 1:14).

“And, lo, while she yet talked with the king, Nathan the prophet came in” (1 Kings 1:22). He “bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground. And Nathan said, My lord, O king, hast thou said, Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne?” (1 Kings 1:23-24).

Anoints Solomon at Gihon (1 Kings 1:28–45)

David calls Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah and commands them to bring Solomon down to Gihon; Zadok and Nathan anoint him king, and the city rings with the noise.

Anoints Solomon at Gihon

“And king David said, Call to me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king” (1 Kings 1:32). The king said, “let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him there king over Israel; and blow ye the trumpet, and say, Long live king Solomon” (1 Kings 1:34).

“So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David’s mule, and brought him to Gihon” (1 Kings 1:38).

Adonijah and his guests heard the sound, and Jonathan told them, “Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king in Gihon; and they are come up from thence rejoicing, so that the city rang again” (1 Kings 1:45). Scripture names Nathan in no later event of David's reign.

The LORD (2 Samuel 7:4–5; 2 Samuel 12:1; 2 Samuel 12:7)

The word of the LORD came to Nathan, and the LORD sent him to David.

David (2 Samuel 7:2–3; 2 Samuel 12:1–13; 1 Kings 1:32–34)

The king to whom Nathan answered about the house of cedar, spoke the LORD's charge, and was sent for with Zadok and Benaiah.

Bath-sheba (1 Kings 1:11–14; 1 Kings 1:22)

Nathan gave the mother of Solomon counsel to save her own life and her son's, and came in after her to confirm her words.

Solomon (2 Samuel 12:24–25; 1 Kings 1:34; 1 Kings 1:45)

At his birth he was called Jedidiah by the hand of Nathan, and Nathan and Zadok anointed him king at Gihon.

Zadok the priest (1 Kings 1:8; 1 Kings 1:38; 1 Kings 1:45)

Named with Nathan among those not with Adonijah, and with him in the anointing of Solomon.

Benaiah (1 Kings 1:32; 1 Kings 1:38)

Called with Nathan before the king and went down with him to Gihon.

Adonijah (1 Kings 1:5; 1 Kings 1:10; 1 Kings 1:24)

Exalted himself to be king and called not Nathan to his feast; Nathan asked David whether Adonijah should reign.

Major sections

• 2 Samuel 7
• 2 Samuel 12:1–25
• 1 Kings 1
• 1 Chronicles 17
• 1 Chronicles 29:29
• 2 Chronicles 9:29
• 2 Chronicles 29:25

More illuminations · Harbinger's Lamp