2 Samuel 18:29
ESV
And the king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king 's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was."
NIV
The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "I saw great confusion just as Joab was about to send the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was."
NASB
But the king said, 'Is it well with the young man Absalom?' And Ahimaaz answered, 'When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I did not know what it was.'
CSB
The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom all right?" Ahimaaz replied, "When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a big disturbance, but I don’t know what it was."
NLT
What about young Absalom?' the king demanded. 'Is he all right?' Ahimaaz replied, 'When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn’t know what was happening.'
KJV
And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
NKJV
The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”
What does 2 Samuel 18:29 mean?
Absalom spent four years building a following (2 Samuel 15:1–7) and a much shorter time building a large army (2 Samuel 17:11–14). He meets David's smaller fighting force in the forest of Ephraim. Thousands die in one day, most because of the dangerous terrain (2 Samuel 18:6–8). By God's providence, Absalom's gets his head stuck in tree branches. Joab finds him and kills him, ending the battle and the rebellion (2 Samuel 18:9–16).Ahimaaz had a critical role in the win. He and his friend Jonathan brought David the warning that Absalom was coming after him and his servants; they had to cross the Jordan to safety. David and his people were able to fight because of Ahimaaz (2 Samuel 17:15–22).
Ahimaaz had brought unpleasant—but essential—intelligence. Now, he wants to bring good news. He begs Joab to let him run to David with the message that the war is over. Joab refuses. He knows David will not reward the man who brings such news and sends another man, a Cushite, instead. Ahimaaz presses, and Joab relents. Ahimaaz outruns the Cushite and gets to David first (2 Samuel 18:19–23).
Excitedly, Ahimaaz bows to David and exclaims: God has delivered David! The war is over (2 Samuel 18:28). But David doesn't react like a victorious king. His one question is about the life of his son. Ahimaaz seems to finally understand what Joab was trying to tell him. David's primary concern isn't the battle or the throne: it's Absalom. So Ahimaaz stumbles into dishonesty. David tells him to stand aside. And they both wait for the Cushite to come with the real message (2 Samuel 18:30).
