Nathan is a prominent prophet in the Hebrew Bible, known for his role as a counselor and advisor to King David. His account is primarily found in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings. Nathan's interactions with David highlight his courage, wisdom, and commitment to God's truth.

Role and Ministry

Nathan first appears in 2 Samuel 7, where he delivers God's covenant promise to David. David expresses his desire to build a temple for the Lord, but God, through Nathan, reveals that David's son will build the temple instead. Nathan conveys God's promise that David's house and kingdom will endure forever: "Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16). This prophecy is foundational for the Messianic expectation, as it points to the eternal reign of Jesus Christ, a descendant of David.

Confrontation with David

Nathan is perhaps best known for his bold confrontation with King David following David's sin with Bathsheba. In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan approaches David with a parable about a rich man who unjustly takes a poor man's only lamb. When David reacts with anger at the injustice, Nathan declares, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7). Nathan's rebuke leads David to repentance, demonstrating the prophet's crucial role in calling the king to account and guiding him back to righteousness.

Involvement in Solomon's Ascension

Nathan also plays a significant role in the succession of Solomon to the throne. As David's life nears its end, Nathan supports Bathsheba in ensuring that Solomon, David's chosen heir, becomes king. In 1 Kings 1, Nathan advises Bathsheba to remind David of his promise regarding Solomon's kingship. Nathan's actions help thwart Adonijah's attempt to seize the throne, ensuring the fulfillment of God's plan for Solomon's reign.

Legacy and Influence

Nathan's influence extends beyond his lifetime. He is credited with writing accounts of David's reign, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:29: "As for the events of King David’s reign, from beginning to end, they are written in the records of Samuel the seer, the records of Nathan the prophet, and the records of Gad the seer" . This suggests that Nathan's contributions were integral to the historical and spiritual record of Israel.

Nathan's life exemplifies the role of a prophet as a messenger of God, a moral compass, and a guide for the king and the nation. His unwavering commitment to truth and justice, even in the face of potential danger, underscores the importance of prophetic ministry in the biblical narrative.Nathan

given; giving; rewarded

Nathan

(a giver).

1. An eminent Hebrew prophet in the reigns of David and Solomon. (B.C. 1015.) He first appears in the consultation with David about the building of the temple. (2 Samuel 7:2,3,17) He next comes forward as the reprover of David for the sin with Bathsheba; and his famous apologue on the rich man and the ewe lamb, which is the only direct example of his prophetic power, shows it to have been of a very high order. (2 Samuel 12:1-12)
2. A son of David; one of the four who were borne to him by Bathsheba. (1 Chronicles 3:5) comp, 1Chr 14:4 and 2Sam 5:14
3. Son or brother of one of the members of David's guard. (2 Samuel 23:36; 1 Chronicles 11:38)
4. One of the head men who returned from Babylon with Ezra on his second expedition. (Ezra 8:16) 1 Esdr. 8:44. It is not impossible that he may be the same with the "son of Bani." (Ezra 10:39)

Nathan

1. A Hebrew prophet, Zechariah 12:12; a friend and counselor of David. He approved the king's purpose of building a temple to the lord, but by divine direction transferred this accomplishment to Solomon, 2 Samuel 7:1-17. By a fine parable, pointedly applied, he convicted David of his guilt in respect to Uriah and Bathsheba, 2 Samuel 12:1-31 Psalm 51:1-19; and his bold fidelity here seems to have been appreciated by David, see NATHAN 2, and is worthy of everlasting remembrance. Solomon was probably educated under his care, 2 Samuel 12:25; and was effectually aided by him in his peaceful succession to the throne, 1Ki 1...1-53. He wrote some memorials, long since lost, of both David and Solomon, 1 Chronicles 29:29 2 Chronicles 9:29. How long he lived under the reign of Solomon is unknown; but two of his sons were high officers at court, 1 Kings 4:5.

2. A son of David, by Bathsheba, 1 Chronicles 3:5 14:4; an ancestor of Christ, Luke 3:21. See GENEALOGY.

Given.

(1.) A prophet in the reigns of David and Solomon (2 Chronicles 9:29). He is first spoken of in connection with the arrangements David made for the building of the temple (2 Samuel 7:2, 3, 17), and next appears as the reprover of David on account of his sin with Bathsheba (12:1-14). He was charged with the education of Solomon (12:25), at whose inauguration to the throne he took a prominent part (1 Kings 1:8, 10, 11, 22-45). His two sons, Zabad (1 Chronicles 2:36) and Azariah (1 Kings 4:5) occupied places of honour at the king's court. He last appears in assisting David in reorganizing the public worship (2 Chronicles 29:25). He seems to have written a life of David, and also a life of Solomon (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29).

(2.) A son of David, by Bathsheba (2 Samuel 5:14), whose name appears in the genealogy of Mary, the mother of our Lord (Luke 3:31).

(3.) Ezra 8:16.

NATHAN (1)

na'-than (nathan, "gift"; Nathan): A court prophet in David's reign and a supporter of Solomon at his accession. There are three main incidents in his career as depicted in the Old Testament.

1. Nathan and David's Temple-Plans:

The two parallel narratives, 2 Samuel 7:1-17 equals 1 Chronicles 17:1-15, of which the former is the original, relate how David confided to Nathan his intention to build a house for Yahweh's ark. Nathan at first blesses the project, but that same night is given a Divine message, and returns to tell the king that instead of David building a house for Yahweh, Yahweh will build a house for David: "I will set up thy seed after thee,.... and I will establish his kingdom..... I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men" (2 Samuel 7:12-14). 2 Samuel 7:13 says that "He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever," but this disturbs the one great thought of the passage,. which is that God will build a house for David, and which is also the thought in David's prayer (7:18-29).

The word "seed" in 2 Samuel 7:12 is collective and so throughout the passage, so that the prophecy does not refer to any individual, but, like Deuteronomy 17:14-20; Deuteronomy 18:15-22, belongs to the group of generic prophecies. Nor is it Messianic, for 2 Samuel 7:14 could not be reconciled with the sinlessness of Jesus. The message is rather a promise of the ever-merciful providence of God in dealing with David's family. (See , however, C.A. Briggs, Messianic Prophecy, 126;.) Budde, who says that the section belongs to the 7th century and is certainly pre-exilic in the leading thought of the passage, sees in the prophecy something of the idealism of Amos and Hosea, for the prophet teaches that Yahweh dwells, not in "a holy place made with hands" (Hebrews 9:11, 24), but rather in the life of the nation as represented by the direct succession of Davidic kings. This presents an extension of the teaching of Paul that the very body itself is a sanctuary unto God (1 Corinthians 6:19).

2. Nathan and David's Sin:

2 Samuel 12:1-25 narrates Nathan's rebuke of David for his adultery, and for causing the death of Uriah; and then comes an account of the death of Bathsheba's child. In 12:1-15a, we have Nathan's parable of the rich man and the poor man's ewe lamb, and the application of it to David's conduct. But several difficulties arise when we ask exactly what Nathan's message to David was: 12:13 represent the prophet as saying that God has forgiven David but that the child will die, while 12:10-12 speak of a heavy punishment that is to come upon David and his family, and 12:16 does not show any indication of a prophecy as to the child's death. Commentators regard 12:1-15a as later in origin than 2 Samuel 11; 2 Samuel 12 in the main, and hold 12:10-12 to be still later than the rest of 12:1-15a. Budde omits 12:9a, 10ab, 11, 12, but regards even the rest of the story as interrupting the connection between 11:27b and 12:15b, and therefore of later date.

3. Nathan and Solomon's Accession:

1 Kings 1 is a part of "one of the best pieces of Hebrew narrative in our possession" (H.P. Smith, Old Testament History, 153, note 2). It narrates the part that Nathan played in the events that led to Solomon's accession. David was getting old and feeble, and the succession had not been settled. When Adonijah, who was probably the eldest son living, gave a banquet to some of his father's state officials, Nathan, who was one of those that had not been invited, incited Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, to remind David of his promise to her that Solomon should succeed to the throne. This she did, and in the middle of her audience with David, Nathan appears with the news of Adonijah's feast and proclamation as king. Solomon is then anointed king by David's command, Nathan being one of his chief supporters. It has been suggested that it is only Nathan who interprets Adonijah's feast as a claim to the throne, but this contradicts 1 Kings 1:5. Yet, whereas in the two sections treated above Nathan is the prophet of Yahweh, he is represented in 1 Kings as an intriguing court politician, planning very cleverly an opportune entrance into David's presence at the very time that Bathsheba has an audience with the king. The parallel narrative of 1 Chronicles 28 makes no mention of Nathan, Solomon being there represented as Divinely elected to succeed David.

1 Kings 4:5 mentions a Nathan as father of Azariah and Zabud, two of the chief officers of Solomon. He is probably the prophet.

1 Chronicles 29:29 2 Chronicles 9:29 refer to "the words" or rather "the acts of Nathan the prophet" as well as those of Samuel and Gad. "There can be no doubt that these are nothing more than references to the narratives in which Samuel, Nathan and Gad are mentioned in our Books of Samuel" (Curtis on 1 Chronicles 29:29). In 2 Chronicles 29:25, sanction is claimed for Levitical temple-music as being commanded by God through Nathan and Gad.

Curtis (on 1 Chronicles 29:29) observes that Nathan is always called nabhi' ("prophet") in Samuel and Kings and not ro'eh or chozeh, "seer."

David Francis Roberts

NATHAN (2)

(1) A prophet (2 Samuel 7 Psalm 51, title). See preceding article.

(2) A son of King David (2 Samuel 5:14 1 Chronicles 3:5; 1 Chronicles 14:4).

(3) Father of Igal, one of David's heroes (2 Samuel 23:36). In 1 Chronicles 11:38, we have "Joel the brother of Nathan"; the Septuagint's Codex Vaticanus has "son" in this verse, but it is impossible to say whether Igal or Joel is the correct name.

(4) A Jerahmeelite (1 Chronicles 2:36), whose son is called Zabad, whom some suppose to be the same as Zabud (1 Kings 4:5). On this view this Nathan is the same as the prophet (see 1, above).

(5) A companion of Ezra from Babylon (Ezra 8:16 and 1Es 8:44).

(6) Nathanias (1 Esdras 9:34), one of those who had married foreign wives (Ezra 10:39).

(7) Name of a family (Zechariah 12:12).

David Francis Roberts

3481. Natham -- Nathan, an Israelite
... Nathan, an Israelite. Part of Speech: Proper Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration:
Natham Phonetic Spelling: (nath-an') Short Definition: Nathan Definition: Nathan ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3481.htm - 6k5416. Nathan -- the name of a number of Isr.
... 5415, 5416. Nathan. 5417 . the name of a number of Isr. Transliteration:
Nathan Phonetic Spelling: (naw-thawn') Short Definition: Nathan. ...
/hebrew/5416.htm - 6k

5414. nathan -- to give, put, set
... 5413, 5414. nathan. 5415 . to give, put, set. Transliteration: nathan Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-than') Short Definition: give. ... 5413, 5414. nathan. 5415 . ...
/hebrew/5414.htm - 9k

5419. Nethan-melek -- "given of a king," a leader in Judah
... "given of a king," a leader in Judah. Transliteration: Nethan-melek Phonetic Spelling:
(neth-an' meh'-lek) Short Definition: Nathan-melech. ... Nathan-melech. ...
/hebrew/5419.htm - 6k

494. Elnathan -- "God has given," the name of several Israelites
... Word Origin from el and nathan Definition "God has given," the name of several Isr.
NASB Word Usage Elnathan (7). Elnathan. ... see HEBREW nathan. 493, 494. ...
/hebrew/494.htm - 6k

5418. Nethanyah -- "given of Yah," the name of several Israelites
... Word Origin from nathan and Yah Definition "given of Yah," the name of several Isr.
NASB Word Usage Nethaniah (20). Nethaniah. ... see HEBREW nathan. see HEBREW Yahh ...
/hebrew/5418.htm - 6k

3083. Yehonathan -- "the LORD has given," the name of a number of ...
... Word Origin from Yhvh and nathan Definition "the LORD has given," the name of a
number of Isr. ... see HEBREW Yhovah. see HEBREW nathan. see HEBREW Yownathan. ...
/hebrew/3083.htm - 6k

5417. Nethanel -- "given of God," the name of a number of Isr.
... Word Origin from nathan and el Definition "given of God," the name of a number of
Isr. NASB Word Usage Nethanel (14). ... see HEBREW nathan. see HEBREW 'el. ...
/hebrew/5417.htm - 6k

5411. nethinim -- temple servants
... Word Origin from nathan Definition temple servants NASB Word Usage temple servants
(16). Nethinims. ... see HEBREW nathan. 5410b, 5411. nethinim. 5412 . ...
/hebrew/5411.htm - 6k

5415. nethan -- to give
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to nathan Definition to give NASB Word Usage
bestows (3), give (1), pay (1), provide (2). ... see HEBREW nathan. 5414, 5415. ...
/hebrew/5415.htm - 6k

4976. mattan -- a gift
... Word Origin from nathan Definition a gift NASB Word Usage gift (4), gifts (1). gift,
to give, reward. From nathan; a present -- gift, to give, reward. ...
/hebrew/4976.htm - 6k

David and Nathan
... THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL DAVID AND NATHAN. 'And David said unto Nathan,
I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/david and nathan.htm

Nathan Reproving the King.
... NATHAN REPROVING THE KING. David was now King. ... God was displeased at what
he had done, and sent Nathan the prophet to reprove him. ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the old testament/nathan reproving the king.htm

How David Fell in Love with Bathsheba, and Slew Her Husband Uriah ...
... From The Death Of Saul To The Death Of David. CHAPTER 7. How David Fell In Love
With Bathsheba, And Slew Her Husband Uriah, For Which He Is Reproved By Nathan. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how david fell.htm

How Like the Prophecy About Christ in the 89Th Psalm is to the ...
... Book XVII. Chapter 9."How Like the Prophecy About Christ in the 89th Psalm is to
the Things Promised in Nathan's Prophecy in the Books of Samuel. ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 9 how like the prophecy.htm

How Solomon Became the Ruler of Israel
... But Zadok the priest and Benaiah and Nathan the prophet, as well as Shimei
and Rei and David's famous warriors, were not on his side. ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/how solomon became the ruler.htm

A Rich Man who was a Thief
... What David had done displeased Jehovah and he sent the prophet Nathan to
David. Nathan ... pity.". Nathan said to David, "You are the man! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/a rich man who was.htm

Concerning Our Lord's Genealogy and Concerning the Holy Mother of ...
... But Matthew derives Joseph from David through Solomon, while Luke does so through
Nathan; while over the holy Virgin's origin both pass in silence. ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xiv concerning our lords genealogy.htm

Forgiveness
... You all heard just now the story of Nathan and David, and you must have all felt
how beautiful, and noble, and just it was; how it declares that there is but ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xix forgiveness.htm

Vanished Hopes
... Nathan, the Christian, stood close to her. ... She flung herself between Momus and Nathan
and cowered down until Philadelphus had passed from sight. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxii vanished hopes.htm

David Appointing Solomon
... And king David said, Call me Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah
the son of Jehoiada. And they came before the king.33. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/david appointing solomon.htm

Nathan (42 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NATHAN (1). na'-than (nathan, "gift"; Nathan):
A court prophet in David's reign and a supporter of Solomon at his accession. ...
/n/nathan.htm - 29k

Nathan-melech (1 Occurrence)
Nathan-melech. Nathanmelech, Nathan-melech. Nation . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia NATHAN-MELECH. na'-than-mel'-ek (nethan ...
/n/nathan-melech.htm - 7k

Nathan'a-el (6 Occurrences)
Nathan'a-el. Nathanael, Nathan'a-el. Nathaneel . Multi-Version
Concordance Nathan'a-el (6 Occurrences). John 1:45 Philip ...
/n/nathan'a-el.htm - 7k

Bathsheba (14 Occurrences)
... With the help of the prophet Nathan she renders futile the usurpation of Adonijah
and craftily secures the throne for her son Solomon (1 Kings 1:11). ...
/b/bathsheba.htm - 14k

Benai'ah (43 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 1:8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the
prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were ...
/b/benai'ah.htm - 18k

Bath-sheba (12 Occurrences)
... With the help of the prophet Nathan she renders futile the usurpation of Adonijah
and craftily secures the throne for her son Solomon (1 Kings 1:11). ...
/b/bath-sheba.htm - 13k

Zabad (8 Occurrences)
... or (2) zabhdi'el, "El (God) is my gift" (HPN, 222); Zabed(t), with many variants):
(1) A Jerahmeelite (1 Chronicles 2:36, 37), son of Nathan (see NATHAN, IV). ...
/z/zabad.htm - 11k

Zabud (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Gift, the son of Nathan, who was "king's friend" in the
court of Solomon (1 Kings 4:5). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ZABUD. ...
/z/zabud.htm - 8k

Nathanmelech (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia NATHAN-MELECH. ... The Septuagint calls him "Nathan,
the king's eunuch" (Nathan basileos tou eunouchou). Multi-Version Concordance ...
/n/nathanmelech.htm - 7k

Jehoi'ada (50 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 1:8 But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the
prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men that belonged to David, were ...
/j/jehoi'ada.htm - 21k

Who was Nathan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of David and Nathan? | GotQuestions.org

Why did David ask God to “create in me a clean heart” in Psalm 51:10? | GotQuestions.org

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