Elders — The chief officers of his kingdom and household. He would not — This excessive mourning did not proceed simply from the fear of the loss of the child; but from a deep sense of his sin, and the divine displeasure manifested herein.
Related Commentaries of 2 Samuel 12:17
2 Samuel 12:17
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.