2 Samuel 18:25

25 And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, "If he be alone, there are tidings in his mouth." And he came apace and drew near.

2 Samuel 18:25 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 18:25

And the watchman cried and told the king
Called with a loud voice from the roof of the watchtower to the king, sitting between the gates, and informed him what he saw:

and the king said, if he [be] alone [there is] tidings in his mouth;
for if the army was routed and fled, and were pursued, there would be more in company, or several running one after another; but being but one, it was highly improbable that he was sent express:

and he came apace, and drew near;
which was another sign of his being a messenger, the haste he made towards the city.

2 Samuel 18:25 In-Context

23 "But howsoever," said he, "let me run." And he said unto him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24 And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.

25 And the watchman cried and told the king. And the king said, "If he be alone, there are tidings in his mouth." And he came apace and drew near.

26 And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running alone." And the king said, "He also bringeth tidings."

27 And the watchman said, "I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings."