2 Samuel 12:1

Sent Nathan. As time went on David’s sin came out into the open. It became known that David himself was the father of the child that was born to Bath-sheba, and suspicions arose that it was he who had brought about the death of Uriah (see PP 720).

David was not only the civil ruler of his people but also “the Lord’s anointed,” the head of the theocracy, the leader of God’s chosen people, and the one who was to uphold and enforce the law of the Lord. David by his sin had brought reproach and dishonor upon the name of the Lord. God therefore sent Nathan to David to deliver the message of divine rebuke, in an attempt to bring the erring king to a realization of the magnitude of his crime and to repentance.

There were two men. The allegory was skillfully designed to arouse David’s indignation and thus cause him to pass sentence upon the offense he had committed. The delivery of the message required skill and courage. Unless the rebuke went home to the heart of the king, it might bring about the death of the reprover.

Ewe lamb. The details are skillfully presented to create sympathy for the owner of the one ewe lamb and indignation toward the heartless individual who would stoop so low as to take advantage of his neighbor. In order that it might be effective, the narrative was made most realistic. Homes where lambs are treated with much affection are still found in Syria today.