2Sa 12:18 | NETfull | STEP | On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, “While the child was still alive he would not listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!”

2 Samuel 12:18

18 On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said, “While the child was still alive he would not listen to us ^{▼▼ Heb “to our voice.”} when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!” ^{▼▼ Heb “he will do harm.” The object is not stated in the Hebrew text. The statement may be intentionally vague, meaning that he might harm himself or them!}