And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
Nathan delivered his message and went home to pray, and God magnified his word by striking the child. David's fasting and lying on the earth proved the truth of his repentance; he was willing to bear the shame of his sin continually before him and before others.
AI summary
Commenting on 2 Samuel 12:15-25
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died,.... Not the seventh day from its being taken ill, but from its birth; for it cannot be thought that David should fast seven days: and the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; lest he should be overwhelmed with too much sorrow: for they said, behold, while...
And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them. (k) Thinking by his constant prayer that God would have restored his child, but God had determined otherwise.