Nathan was a prominent prophet in the court of King David, playing a crucial role in the spiritual and political life of Israel during the united monarchy. His account is primarily found in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, where he is depicted as a courageous and faithful servant of God, delivering divine messages to the king.

Role and Ministry

Nathan first appears in 2 Samuel 7, where he is consulted by King David regarding the construction of a temple for the Ark of the Covenant. Initially, Nathan encourages David, but later that night, the word of the LORD comes to Nathan, instructing him to deliver a different message. God tells Nathan that David is not to build the temple; instead, God promises to establish David's house and kingdom forever. Nathan faithfully conveys this covenantal promise to David, which is known as the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:4-17).

Nathan's most notable act of prophecy occurs in 2 Samuel 12, following David's sin with Bathsheba and the arranged death of her husband, Uriah the Hittite. The LORD sends Nathan to confront David with a parable about a rich man who unjustly takes a poor man's only lamb. When David reacts with anger against the rich man, Nathan boldly declares, "You are the man!" (2 Samuel 12:7). Nathan then pronounces God's judgment on David, foretelling the turmoil that will arise within his household as a consequence of his sin. David's subsequent repentance is a testament to Nathan's effective ministry and the power of God's word delivered through him.

Involvement in Royal Succession

Nathan also plays a significant role in the succession of Solomon to the throne. As David's life draws to a close, Adonijah, another of David's sons, attempts to seize the throne. Nathan, aware of God's promise that Solomon would succeed David, acts decisively. He informs Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, of Adonijah's actions and advises her to remind David of his oath regarding Solomon's kingship. Nathan then approaches David himself, ensuring that the king is aware of the situation (1 Kings 1:11-27). Through Nathan's intervention, David orders Solomon to be anointed as king, thus securing the divinely ordained succession (1 Kings 1:32-40).

Legacy

Nathan's influence extends beyond his lifetime. He is credited with having written accounts of David's reign, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 29:29, which states, "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 and ministry exemplify the role of a prophet as a mouthpiece for God, delivering messages of both promise and judgment. His courage in confronting sin, his faithfulness in delivering God's promises, and his wisdom in political matters highlight the multifaceted role of prophets in the biblical narrative.2 Samuel 7:2
That the king said to Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in an house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within curtains.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Samuel 12:1
And the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him, and said to him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Kings 1:10
But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Of Jesus, God and Man; and the Testimonies of the Prophets ...
... wished to build a temple for God; and this was the word of the Lord to Nathan, saying:
[635 ... 637] Therefore they referred the predictions of the prophets to him. ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xiii of jesus god and.htm

The History of David
... and Nathan came to David, and tofore them he said that Solomon should be king, and
ordained that he should be set on his mule by his prophets Nathan, Zadok the ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

Departed Saints Fellowservants with those yet on Earth.
... But if this was one of the old prophets, Samuel, Nathan, Daniel, or any other of
those who had tabernacled in flesh, and been sent to warn his brethren, and ...
/.../sermon xxvi departed saints fellowservants.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... 2. The office of the prophets under the Theocracy, which we first notice, was that ...
With what majesty of severity did Samuel reprove Saul, and Nathan David, and ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Concerning Our Lord's Genealogy and Concerning the Holy Mother of ...
... forth and proclaimed in diverse images and discourses of the prophets through the ...
from David through Solomon, while Luke does so through Nathan; while over the ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xiv concerning our lords genealogy.htm

A Look into the Hebrew Bible.
... references are made to historical writings of various sorts, composed by prophets
and seers ... not at all improbable that some of these histories of Nathan and Gad ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter i a look into.htm

Writing i. Africanus on the Genealogy in the Holy Gospels. ...
... [1037] For if Nathan was a prophet, so also was Solomon, and so too the father of
both of them; and there were prophets belonging to many of the tribes, but ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/writing i africanus on the.htm

Do You Look for Another? but Daniel Foretells the Exact Time. ...
... of old, and Solomon and Ezechias; but then, nevertheless, Jerusalem and the place
stood, and prophets were prophesying: God and Asaph and Nathan; and, later ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/section 39 do you look.htm

Doubtful Fragments on the Pentateuch.
... excellence is, that God delivered it by the hand of our most blessed ruler, the
chief of the prophets, and first ... And Samuel delivered it to Nathan the prophet. ...
/.../doubtful fragments on the pentateuch.htm

The Sins of the Men of Old Time, which Incurred the Displeasure of ...
... And Nathan said unto him, Thou art the man who hast done this." [4177 ... His advent,
and submitted to His dispensations, the righteous men, the prophets, and the ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxviithe sins of the.htm

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