Nathan (Hebrew: נתן Natan "gift") was the prophet sent by God to rebuke David for planning the death of Uriah in battle. David planned Uriah's death so that David could marry Bath-Sheba, who was Uriah's wife. Uriah died in battle as David planned, and David then married Bathsheba, who then bore David's son.
| “ | Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife[1] | ” |
Nathan then prophesied that the son would die within a week,[2] and he did.[3] The next child born to David and Bath-Sheba was destined to become King Solomon.[4]
Much later Nathan played a key role in ensuring that Solomon would become king rather than Solomon’s half-brother, Adonijah.[5] Nathan ultimately outlived both David and Solomon.