2 Samuel 18:28
ESV
Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "All is well." And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, "Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king."
NIV
Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against my lord the king."
NASB
Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, 'All is well.' And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, 'Blessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.'
CSB
Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well," and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. He continued, "Blessed be the Lord your God! He delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king."
NLT
Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, 'Everything is all right!' He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, 'Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king.'
KJV
And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
NKJV
So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”
What does 2 Samuel 18:28 mean?
Ahimaaz fought for the honor of bringing this news to David. The war between David's guards and Absalom's army is over. David has won. Joab tried to keep Ahimaaz from delivering the message. The general even sent another runner, a Cushite, before Ahimaaz. But when Ahimaaz pushed, Joab gave up, and Ahimaaz outran the Cushite to his king (2 Samuel 18:19–23).When Ahimaaz gives the news that David's enemies are defeated, he doesn't get the reaction he expects. David doesn't celebrate. He doesn't ask about casualties. He has only one concern: "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" (2 Samuel 18:29).
This appears to be a moment of realization for Ahimaaz. Joab wasn't trying to keep him from telling David the war was over. He was protecting him from David's reaction when the king learned his son is dead. David understood that the battle was necessary: Absalom had encamped with an army with the intent to kill his own father. But David's primary—nearly only—concern was that Absalom would live (2 Samuel 18:5).
When Ahimaaz hears David's question, he backpedals. He lies and says, claiming that he'd been sent without knowing what happened to Absalom (2 Samuel 18:29). He can't bring himself to tell the king that his son is dead. But another runner is coming. David tells Ahimaaz to stand aside and wait. When Joab's official messenger tells David the news, David dissolves into grief (2 Samuel 18:31–33).
