Discovery Box2 Samuel 12:16-18 
Context12:16 Then David prayed to 1 God for the child and fasted. 2 He would even 3 go and spend the night lying on the ground. 12:17 The elders of his house stood over him and tried to lift him from the ground, but he was unwilling, and refused to eat food with them.
12:18 On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, “While the child was still alive he would not listen to us 4 when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!” 5
1 tn Heb “sought” or “searched for.”
2 tn Heb “and David fasted.”
3 tn The three Hebrew verbs that follow in this verse are perfects with prefixed vav. They may describe repeated past actions or actions which accompanied David’s praying and fasting.
4 tn Heb “to our voice.”
5 tn Heb “he will do harm.” The object is not stated in the Hebrew text. The statement may be intentionally vague, meaning that he might harm himself or them!
