Father of Azariah and Zabud, he was a prophet and advisor of the kings David and Solomon
About Nathan
One of the early prophets and advisers of David. As David's military campaigns neared an end, he told Nathan of his wish to build a home for God. Nathan initially reacted favorably. But, after receiving direct orders from the Lord, he withdrew his approval. He foretold that one of David's sons would build God a house. God would establish a dynasty for David through his son Solomon. The prophecy includes not only the Davidic line but also the messianic king. Nathan's oracle was vital. It dealt with two great institutions: the temple and the Davidic monarchy (2 Samuel 7:1–7; 1 Chronicles 17:1–15).
During a war with the Ammonites, David had a child with a woman named Bathsheba, who was not his wife. David tried to hide what he had done. He tried to get Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, to go home to her (2 Samuel 11:1–13; 23:39). When this did not work, he had Joab, the army's general, arrange for Uriah to be killed in battle. After that, David took Bathsheba as his wife (2 Samuel 11:14–27).
A prophet named Nathan came to talk to David. Nathan was brave. He told David a story (parable) about a rich man who took a poor man's only sheep. This story made David very angry at the rich man (2 Samuel 12:1–9). Then Nathan told David that he was like the rich man in the story. Nathan helped David see how bad his actions were and told him what would happen because of his sin (2 Samuel 12:10–12). This prophecy was fulfilled through a rape, the deaths of three of David’s sons, and civil war (2 Samuel 13–18; 1 Kings 1). Bathsheba’s child also would not live (2 Samuel 12:14).
When David was near death, one of his sons, Adonijah, seized power (1 Kings 1:1, 10). Nathan urged Bathsheba to remind David of a promise. It concerned Solomon's succession. He supported her by intervening in time (1 Kings 1:10–27). David immediately approved Solomon’s crowning (1 Kings 1:28–53).
Nathan was an important historian (1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29). He and David played a vital role in developing the music for temple worship (2 Chronicles 29:25).
Family Relationships
- Children 2
- Azariah (1 Kings 4:5), Zabud
Key References
he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?
All Scripture References (30)
2 Samuel (10)
he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”
And Nathan replied to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire revelation.
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.
After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.
and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him.
1 Kings (12)
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David’s mighty men would not join Adonijah.
But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.
Then Nathan said to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, “Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and our lord David does not know it?
And just then, while Bathsheba was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived.
So the king was told, “Nathan the prophet is here.” And Nathan went in and bowed facedown before the king.
“My lord the king,” said Nathan, “did you say, ‘Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne’?
Then King David said, “Call in for me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada.” So they came before the king.
There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet are to anoint him king over Israel. You are to blow the ram’s horn and declare, ‘Long live King Solomon!’
Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon.
And with Solomon, the king has sent Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, and they have set him on the king’s mule.
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and they have gone up from there with rejoicing that rings out in the city. That is the noise you hear.
Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the governors; Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and adviser to the king;
1 Chronicles (5)
After David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent.”
And Nathan replied to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,
So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire revelation.
Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are indeed written in the Chronicles of Samuel the Seer, the Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet, and the Chronicles of Gad the Seer,
2 Chronicles (2)
As for the rest of the acts of Solomon, from beginning to end, are they not written in the Records of Nathan the Prophet, in the Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the Visions of Iddo the Seer concerning Jeroboam son of Nebat?
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.
Psalms (1)
Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.