2 Samuel 18:19-33

David Is Grief-stricken

19 Then ¹Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Please let me run and bring the king news ²that the LORD has freed him from the hand of his enemies."

20 But Joab said to him, "You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because * the king's son is dead."

21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.

22 Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once * more * to Joab, "But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why * would you run, my son, since ³you will have no reward for going?"

23 "But whatever happens," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite.

24 Now ⁴David was sitting between the two gates; and ⁵the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself.

25 The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, "If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth." And he came nearer and nearer.

26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running by himself." And the king said, "This one also is bringing good news."

27 The watchman said, "I think the running of the first one ⁶is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "⁷This is a good man and comes with good news."

28 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, "All is well." And ⁸he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, "⁹Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king."

29 The king said, "¹⁰Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but ¹¹I did not know what it was."

30 Then the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still.

31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, "Let my lord the king receive good news, for ¹²the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you."

32 Then the king said to the Cushite, "¹³Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "¹⁴Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!"

33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "¹⁵O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! ¹⁶Would * I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

2 Samuel 18:19-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 18

In this chapter is an account of David's review of his army, preparing it for battle with Absalom, and those with him, 2Sa 18:1-5; and of the defeat and flight of the rebels, 2Sa 18:6-8; and of the death of Absalom, and the manner of it, and of his burial, 2Sa 18:9-18; and of the news of it brought to David by different persons, 2Sa 18:19-32; and of his great grief and sorrow on that account, 2Sa 18:33.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 15:36
• 2. 2 Samuel 18:31
• 3. 2 Samuel 18:29
• 4. 2 Samuel 19:8
• 5. 2 Samuel 13:34; 2 Kings 9:17
• 6. 2 Kings 9:20
• 7. 1 Kings 1:42
• 8. 1 Samuel 25:23; 2 Samuel 14:4
• 9. 1 Samuel 17:46
• 10. 2 Samuel 20:9; 2 Kings 4:26
• 11. 2 Samuel 18:22
• 12. Judges 5:31; 2 Samuel 18:19
• 13. 2 Samuel 18:29
• 14. 1 Samuel 25:26
• 15. 2 Samuel 19:4
• 16. Exodus 32:32; Romans 9:3

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "vindicated"
• [b]. Lit "see"
• [c]. Lit "Peace"
• [d]. Lit "vindicated"
• [e]. Ch 19:1 in Heb