2 Samuel 18:21
ESV
Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran.
NIV
Then Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed down before Joab and ran off.
NASB
Then Joab said to the Cushite, 'Go, tell the king what you have seen.' So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran.
CSB
Joab then said to a Cushite, "Go tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.
NLT
Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, 'Go tell the king what you have seen.' The man bowed and ran off.
KJV
Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
NKJV
Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.
What does 2 Samuel 18:21 mean?
Joab has killed Absalom. David's throne is secure, but his son is dead. Now, Joab needs to tell David. The traditional way is to send a messenger, and he has two ready and eager to go (2 Samuel 18:14, 19).The first is Ahimaaz, the son of the priest Zadok (2 Samuel 18:19). He's already a hero for risking his life to bring David news that Absalom was planning to track down the king and kill him. Because of Ahimaaz's bravery, David got his people across the Jordan River to safety (2 Samuel 17:15–22). Ahimaaz knows that Absalom's death is good news and would like to be the one who completes this awful affair for David.
What he doesn't realize is that David would rather hear that Absalom is trying to kill him than that Absalom is dead. Joab wants to spare Ahimaaz from David's reaction to the news (2 Samuel 18:20). Instead, Joab sends an unnamed Cushite, possibly his normal messenger, to tell David.
But Ahimaaz insists. Joab tries to convince him again, with the understatement that there won't be a reward for bringing the news (2 Samuel 18:22). Finally, Joab lets him go. Ahimaaz outruns the Cushite and gets to David first. But once in the presence of the king, he has no words. He claims he heard a commotion, but doesn't know what's happened to David's son (2 Samuel 18:23, 29).
