2 Samuel 18:19
ESV
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run and carry news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies."
NIV
Now Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, "Let me run and take the news to the king that the Lord has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies."
NASB
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, 'Please let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has freed him from the hand of his enemies!'
CSB
Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, "Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the Lord has vindicated him by freeing him from his enemies."
NLT
Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, 'Let me run to the king with the good news that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies.'
KJV
Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
NKJV
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the Lord has avenged him of his enemies.”
What does 2 Samuel 18:19 mean?
The rebellion is over (2 Samuel 18:16). The battle lasted one day and cost many lives (2 Samuel 18:7). The fighting has ended, and the nation can start recovering from Absalom's vile conspiracy against his father, David (2 Samuel 15; 17).The hostilities end because Joab killed Absalom against David's direct order (2 Samuel 18:5, 14). Joab did what he strongly believed needed to be done. David is soft on his sons; he has a habit of neither disciplining them nor judging them when they commit even the most horrible crimes (2 Samuel 13:21, 28–29). So, David will not take the news well, and Joab doesn't want young Ahimaaz to be the one to tell him.
Ahimaaz is the son of Zadok, one of the two priests who remained in Jerusalem when David and his servants fled the city. David had ordered the priests to stay behind, in part, so they could send intel about Absalom's plans through their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan (2 Samuel 15:27–28). The two young men were almost caught by Absalom's guards but made it to David in time to get his people safely across the Jordan River (2 Samuel 17:15–22).
Ahimaaz either didn't hear David's command to keep Absalom safe or he doesn't understand David's relationship with his son like Joab does. So far, to David, Ahimaaz is a hero. Joab, it seems, doesn't want that to change, so he tells him not to go and sends a Cushite instead (2 Samuel 18:20–21).
