שמואל ב, פרק י״ב, פסוק ט״ו

Immediately following the prophet's harsh rebuke, the divine decree against David is set into motion. Nathan departs for his own home without delay, a detail that highlights how the punishment begins the very moment he leaves [רד״ק, אברבנאל]. This abrupt exit, without lingering or sitting with the king, serves as a clear expression of God's anger, as the prophet intentionally withholds the usual honor shown to royalty [רד״ק].

As soon as Nathan departs, God strikes the newborn child with illness [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In the recounting of this event, the child's mother is deliberately referred to as the wife of Uriah. This specific title emphasizes that from God's perspective, she is still considered Uriah's wife rather than David's [מלבי״ם].

Following the initial strike, the child's condition drastically deteriorates. While there is an approach that views his state simply as a general illness [רש״י], the primary consensus among commentators is that the sickness worsens significantly. The illness becomes heavy, deeply painful, and completely critical [רד״ק, מצודת ציון, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. It develops into a terminal condition, ultimately leading to the child's death on the seventh day [רלב״ג].