that he drew from a written source. A number of scholars (most recently Dietrich 1972:127–29; Würthwein 1974:19–30, especially p. 24; Veijola 1979:233–34) have followed Schwally (1892:155) in striking the report of Nathan’s audience with David as secondary with regard to the surrounding narrative, and it is true that 11:27b–12:15a can be lifted out rather neatly, removing the prophet almost (12:25) entirely from the story. But in view of our earlier observation of the manner in which the tension