other man's wife; and by exposing her
husband to the enemy, had really slain him; that God would inflict
punishments upon him on account of those instances of wickedness; that
his own wives should be forced by one of his sons; and that he should
be treacherously supplanted by the same son; and that although he had
perpetrated his wickedness secretly, yet should that punishment which
he was to undergo be inflicted publicly upon him; "that, moreover," said
he, "the child which was born to thee of her shall soon die." When the
king was troubled at these messages, and sufficiently confounded, and
said with tears and sorrow that he had sinned, [for he was without
controversy a pious man, and guilty of no sin at all in his whole life,
excepting those in the matter of Uriah,] God had compassion on him, and
was reconciled to him, and promised that he would preserve to him both
his life and his kingdom; for he said that, seeing he repented of the
things he had done, he was no longer displeased with him. So Nathan,
when he had delivered this prophecy to the king, returned home.

4. However, God sent a dangerous distemper upon the child that was born
to David of the wife of Uriah, at which the king was troubled, and did
not take any food for seven days, although his servants almost forced
him to take it; but he clothed himself in a black garment, and fell
down, and lay upon the ground in sackcloth, entrusting God for the
recovery of the child, for he vehemently loved the child's mother; but
when, on the seventh day, the child was dead, the king's servants durst
not tell him of it, as supposing that when he knew it, he would still
less admit of food, and other care of himself, by reason of his grief at
the death of his son, since when the child was only sick, he so greatly
afflicted himself, and grieved for him: but when the king perceived that
his servants were in disorder, and seemed to be affected, as those who
are very desirous to conceal something, he understood that the child was
dead; and when he had called one of his servants to him, and discovered
that so it was, he arose up and washed himself, and took a white
garment, and came into the tabernacle of God. He also commanded them
to set supper before him, and thereby greatly surprised his kindred and
servants, while he did nothing of this when the child was sick, but did
it all when he was dead. Whereupon having first begged leave to ask
him a question, they besought him to