Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 12:1

AND the LORD sent Nathan unto David: and he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city ; the one rich and the other poor:

The Prophet, chap. 7. 2. 1 King. 1. 8. When the ordinary means did not awaken David to Repentance, God useth an Extraordinary Course. Thus the Merciful God pities and prevents him who had so horribly forsaken and forgotten God.

He prudently ushereth in his Reproof with a Parable, after the manner of the Eastern Nations, and ancient times, that so he might surprize David, and cause him unawares to give Sentence against himself. He manageth his Relation as if it had been a real thing; and demands the King's Justice in the case. Though the Application of this Parable to David be easie and obvious, yet it matters not, if some circumstances be not so applicable; because it was fit to put in some such Clauses, either for the decency of the Parable, or that David might not too early discover his Design.

Marginal references: Psa. 51. [illegible: 1 word]