2 Samuel 18:24

24 Now David ¹was sitting between the two gates, and ²the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.

2 Samuel 18:24 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 18:24

And David sat between the two gates
Of the city of Mahanaim; which being a fortified place had two walls, one within another, and in each wall a gate; and between these David sat, waiting for news of the battle:

and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall;
the gate to the outward wall, over which was a tower, and on that a flat roof; to which the watchman went to observe if he could see an express coming; no doubt by David's orders:

and lifted up his eyes and looked;
that is, very diligently and wistfully:

and, behold, a man running alone:
which made him the more observable, and was the more likely to be a messenger.

2 Samuel 18:24 In-Context

22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?"

23 "Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.

25 The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." And he drew nearer and nearer.

26 The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, "See, another man running alone!" The king said, "He also brings news."

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 19:8
• 2. [2 Samuel 13:34; 2 Kings 9:17]