2 Samuel 18:27
ESV
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."
NIV
The watchman said, "It seems to me that the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok." "He’s a good man," the king said. "He comes with good news."
NASB
The watchman said, 'I think the running form of the first one is like the running form of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.' And the king said, 'This is a good man, and he is coming with good news.'
CSB
The watchman said, "The way the first man runs looks to me like the way Ahimaaz son of Zadok runs." "This is a good man; he comes with good news," the king commented.
NLT
The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok,' the watchman said. 'He is a good man and comes with good news,' the king replied.
KJV
And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
NKJV
So 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.”
What does 2 Samuel 18:27 mean?
David is an excellent military commander, a good ruler, and a faithful God-worshiper. When it comes to his sons, however, his wisdom often fails him. He is waiting at the gates of Mahanaim for word of the war between his traitorous son, Absalom, and his own generals. A watchman sees a man running toward the city and identifies him as the priest Zadok's son Ahimaaz (2 Samuel 18:24–26). In his emotional state, David decides that since Ahimaaz is a good man, he must have good news.David's assumption may be based on experience. It's true that Ahimaaz is bringing word from David's military commander Joab, but it's such bad news that Joab tried to keep him from going. It's possible David knows that Joab wouldn't send Ahimaaz with bad news. David doesn't know that Ahimaaz insisted until Joab gave in (2 Samuel 18:19–23).
Oddly, Ahimaaz is a "good man" because, earlier, he risked his life to deliver David bad news. He and his friend Jonathan barely escaped Absalom's guards to warn that Absalom and an army were coming. David needed to get his people across the Jordan River to safety (2 Samuel 17:17–22).
Ahimaaz does have good news. The rebellion is over and David's life and kingdom are secure. But that news comes at a cost: Absalom is dead. When Ahimaaz finally stands before David, he seems to suddenly realize that, to the king, his message couldn't be worse. He can't even say the words (2 Samuel 18:28–29).
