would die (2 Sam. 12:14), David was unsure if the statement was unconditional. He prayed and fasted until the child died, hoping that God might take pity on him and spare the child’s life (v. 22). God’s refusal to respond to David’s acts of repentance shows that Nathan’s declaration was unconditional. Elijah’s judgment speech against Ahab’s dynasty is also ambiguous (1 Kings 21:20–24). In response to the proclamation, Ahab repented, prompting God to postpone the fall of the dynasty until after Ahab’s