NATHAN (naThan), (Heb. naw-thawn', given).
1. A Prophet of the Time of DaVid. When that monarch conceived the idea of building a temple to Jehovah, the design and motives seemed to Nathan so good that he ventured to approve of it without the divine authority; but the night fol lowing he received the divine command, which prevented the king from executing this great work (2 Sam. vii :2, sq.; Chron. xvii).
(1) Nathan and David. Nathan does not again appear in the sacred history till lie comes forward in the name of the Lord to reprove David, and to denounce dire punishment for his frightful crime in the matter of Udall and Bath sheba. This he does by exciting the king's in dignation, and leading him to condemn himself. by reciting to him the very striking parable of the traveler and the lamb. Then, changing the voice of a suppliant for that of a judge and a commis sioned prophet, he exclaims, 'Thou art the man!' and proceeds to announce the evils which were to embitter the remainder of his reign (2 Sam. xii :1, sq.; comp. Ps. li). The lamentations of the re pentant king drew forth some mitigation of pun ishment; but the troubled history of the remainder of his reign shows how completely God's righteous doom was fulfilled. The child conceived in adul tery died; but when Bath-sheba's second son was born, the prophet gave him the name of Jedidiah (beloved of Jehovah), although he is better known by that of Solomon (2 Sam. xii :24, 25). He recognized in this young prince the successor of David; and it was in a great measure through his interposition that the design of Adonijah to seize the crown was unsuccessful (i Kings i :8, sq.).
(2) Death. Nathan probably died soon after the accession of Solomon, for his name does not again historically occur. It is generally supposed that Solomon was brought up under his care. His sons occupied high places in this king's court (t Kings iv:5). He assisted David by his counsels when he reorganized the public worship (2 Chron. xxix:25); and he composed annals of the times in which he lived (1 Chron. xxix :29; 2 Chron. ix :29) ; but these have not been preserved to us. In Zechariah (xii:i2) the name of Nathan oc curs as representing the great family of the proph ets.
2. Son of Attai, of the house of Jerahmeel of Judah (r Chron. ii :36), B. C. after 16i2.
3. A man of Zobah of Syria, and father of one and brother of another of David's mighty men (2 Sam. xxiii:36; Chron. xi:38).
4. The third child born to David in Jerusalem (2 Sam. v:14). Through him Mary, the mother of Jesus, was descended from David (Luke iii: 31). Be was perhaps the father of Solomon's of Acers, Azariah and Zabud King iv:5), II.C. To32.
5. A chief man in the company which returned from captivity with Ezra on his second expedition (Ezra viii:16), B. C. 459.
6. A son of Bani, who divorced his foreign wife (Ezra x:39).