Though there would be found none in Israel to execute the sentence of death upon the anointed of the Lord, David trembled, lest, guilty and unforgiven, he should be cut down by the swift judgment of God. But the message was sent him by the prophet, "The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die." Yet justice must be maintained. The sentence of death was transferred from David to the child of his sin. Thus the king was given opportunity for repentance; while to him the suffering and death of the child, as a part of his punishment, was far more bitter than his own death could have been. The prophet said, "Because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die."

Skønt der ikke fandtes nogen i hele Israel, som kunne fuldbyrde dødsdommen over Herrens salvede, frygtede David for, at Gud ville straffe ham, inden Han nåede at få syndstilgivelse. Men Herrens profet sagde: "Så har Herren også tilgivet dig din synd; du skal ikke dø." Retfærdigheden kunne dog ikke tilsidesættes. Dødsdommen blev overført fra David til det barn, som var frugten af hans synd. Herved fik kongen lejlighed til at angre, men han sørgede langt mere over barnets lidelse og død, som var en del af hans straf, end han ville have gjort, hvis han selv skulle have lidt døden. Profeten sagde: "Men fordi du ved denne gerning har vist foragt for Herren, skal sønnen, som er født dig, visselig dø!"