But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
But now that he is dead, why should I continue to fast? Can I bring him back to life? I will go to him someday, but he will never come back to me.
David is saying that since his child has died, there's no point in continuing to mourn through fasting because death is final - he can't bring the child back, though he will join him in death someday.
📚 Historical Context
King David spoke these words after his newborn son died as a consequence of his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah. David had fasted and pleaded with God for seven days while the child was sick, but once the child died, he got up, washed, and ate. This shocked his servants who expected him to grieve more deeply after the death.
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