Nathan confronts David through a parable about a rich man who takes a poor man's beloved lamb. When David angrily condemns this injustice, Nathan declares, "You are the man!" and pronounces God's judgment: violence will plague David's house, and his wives will be taken publicly by another. Though David immediately confesses, Nathan explains that while God has "put away" his sin (sparing David's life), their child will die—which occurs despite David's prayer and fasting. Afterward, David comforts Bathsheba, and they conceive Solomon, whom "the Lord loved." The chapter concludes with the capture of Rabbah, where David takes the Ammonite king's crown. This narrative establishes the pattern of genuine repentance that would inform Psalm 51 while demonstrating that forgiveness doesn't eliminate consequences—a tension resolved only through Christ's complete atonement.