17. The elders of David’s family came to him and tried to pull him up from the ground, but he refused to get up or to eat food with them.
18. On the seventh day the baby died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the baby was dead. They said, “Look, we tried to talk to David while the baby was alive, but he refused to listen to us. If we tell him the baby is dead, he may do something awful.”
19. When David saw his servants whispering, he knew that the baby was dead. So he asked them, “Is the baby dead?”They answered, “Yes, he is dead.”
20. Then David got up from the floor, washed himself, put lotions on, and changed his clothes. Then he went into the Lord’s house to worship. After that, he went home and asked for something to eat. His servants gave him some food, and he ate.
21. David’s servants said to him, “Why are you doing this? When the baby was still alive, you fasted and you cried. Now that the baby is dead, you get up and eat food.”
22. David said, “While the baby was still alive, I fasted, and I cried. I thought, ‘Who knows? Maybe the Lord will feel sorry for me and let the baby live.’
23. But now that the baby is dead, why should I fast? I can’t bring him back to life. Someday I will go to him, but he cannot come back to me.”
24. Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife. He slept with her and had sexual relations with her. She became pregnant again and had another son, whom David named Solomon. The Lord loved Solomon.
25. The Lord sent word through Nathan the prophet to name the baby Jedidiah, because the Lord loved the child.
26. Joab fought against Rabbah, a royal city of the Ammonites, and he was about to capture it.
27. Joab sent messengers to David and said, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured its water supply.
28. Now bring the other soldiers together and attack this city. Capture it before I capture it myself and it is called by my name!”