His servants asked him, “Why are you doing this? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat.”
In context
19David noticed his servants whispering to each other and realized the child was dead. He asked them, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotion, and changed his clothes. He went into the house of Yahweh and worshipped. Then he went to his own house, and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21His servants asked him, “Why are you doing this? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat.” 22He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I thought, Who knows? Yahweh may be gracious to me and let the child live. 23But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
