2 Samuel 18:23
ESV
"Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
NIV
He said, "Come what may, I want to run." So Joab said, "Run!" Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
NASB
But whatever happens,' he said, 'I will run.' So he said to him, 'Run.' Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed by the Cushite.
CSB
"No matter what, I want to run!" "Then run!" Joab said to him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
NLT
Yes, but let me go anyway,' he begged. Joab finally said, 'All right, go ahead.' So Ahimaaz took the less demanding route by way of the plain and ran to Mahanaim ahead of the Ethiopian.
KJV
But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
NKJV
“But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
What does 2 Samuel 18:23 mean?
Ahimaaz had a mission, and he wants to see it through. As Absalom and his followers approached Jerusalem, King David had the presence of mind to strategize even as he organized his servants to flee. The priests Zadok and Abiathar wanted to follow David into exile. David told them to stay. They could spy on Absalom and send word through their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan (2 Samuel 17:27–28). David's friend Hushai met him next. David sent him to Jerusalem to infiltrate Absalom's council and spoil his advisor Ahithophel's advice (2 Samuel 15:25–37).David's plan worked. Hushai managed to change Ahithophel's plan to give David time. Hushai sent word to the priests who used a servant woman to reach their sons. Jonathan and Ahimaaz barely escaped Absalom's guards before reaching David at the banks of the Jordan River. David and his people crossed the river to safety before Absalom could reach them (2 Samuel 17:17–22, 15–22).
Ahimaaz was the messenger who brought David terrible news that his son was going to amass an army to kill him. Now, Ahimaaz wants to be the messenger who tells David his enemy is dead, and his kingdom is secure.
What Ahimaaz doesn't realize is that David would rather hear that Absalom was coming to kill him. David had told the army not to harm his son. Joab killed him, anyway (2 Samuel 18:5, 14). At first, Joab doesn't let Ahimaaz go; he sends a Cushite, instead (2 Samuel 18:19–22). When Ahimaaz insists, Joab releases him. Ahimaaz outruns the Cushite and reaches David first. When he does, he realizes he had it wrong. David is far more worried about his son than the battle, or even his own life (2 Samuel 18:29).
