2 Samuel 18:29

29 And the king said, ¹“Is it well with the young man Absalom? ” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was. ”

2 Samuel 18:29 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 18:29

And the king said, is the young man Absalom safe?
&c.] Or, is there "peace" ^F6 to him? you say there is peace, and that prosperity and success have attended my army; but what peace has Absalom? is he well, and in safety? David seemed more concerned for him than for his army and the success of it; and even suggests as if it was nothing if Absalom was not safe, so great were his affections towards him:

and Ahimaaz answered, when Joab sent the king's servant;
which was Cushi, the first messenger, whose office perhaps it was to be one of the king's messengers, and therefore called his servant:

and [me] thy servant:
Ahimaaz himself who was sent after the other:

I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was];
he perceived that the tidings of the death of Absalom would be disagreeable to the king, and therefore concealed it from him; and though a good man, he cannot be excused from lying, for certainly he knew that Absalom was dead, as appears from ( 2 Samuel 18:19 2 Samuel 18:20 ) ; though indeed what he said might be true, that after Joab had sent him and Cushi, as the Targum paraphrases it, he saw a company of people gathered together in a tumultuous manner, the meaning of which he knew not; but then this was no other than an evasion.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F6 (renl Mwlv) "estne pax puero?" V. L. "pax puero", Pagninus, Montanus.

2 Samuel 18:29 In-Context

27 The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. ” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news. ”

28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well. ” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king. ”

29 And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom? ” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was. ”

30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here. ” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you. ”

Cross References

• 1. 18:29 ch. 20:9