2 Samuel 18:31
ESV
And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, "Good news for my lord the king! For the Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you."
NIV
Then the Cushite arrived and said, "My lord the king, hear the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you."
NASB
Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, 'Let my lord the king receive good news, for the Lord has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.'
CSB
Just then the Cushite came and said, "May my lord the king hear the good news: The Lord has vindicated you today by freeing you from all who rise against you!"
NLT
Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, 'I have good news for my lord the king. Today the Lord has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.'
KJV
And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
NKJV
Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the Lord has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.”
What does 2 Samuel 18:31 mean?
The battle between Absalom's army and David's forces lasts one day. Multitudes lose their lives, most to the incredibly dangerous forest (2 Samuel 18:6–8). When David's military commander hears that Absalom is caught helplessly in a tree branch, he wastes no time. Three javelins to the heart start what his armor-bearers finish (2 Samuel 18:14–15).With Absalom dead, David is safe. There's no reason to keep fighting a leaderless rebellion. Joab sounds his horn to stop the war (2 Samuel 18:16). Ahimaaz, Zadok the priest's son, wants to bring David the news. It was he who told David that Absalom's army was going to hunt the king down; it's poetic that he be the one to tell the king he's safe again. Joab holds back Ahimaaz and sends a Cushite, instead. Ahimaaz pushes. Eventually, Joab gives in. Ahimaaz can go, but, he warns, David will not like the message (2 Samuel 18:19–23).
Ahimaaz reaches David and tells him the war is over. David immediately asks about Absalom. Ahimaaz apparently comes to realize that David doesn't really care about the battle or his soldiers or even his kingdom. His primary concern is the life of his son. Ahimaaz lies and says he doesn't know (2 Samuel 18:28–30). The Cushite arrives and gives the same news that the battle has ended in victory.
Unfortunately, the Cushite is not tactful, so when David asks about Absalom, he will celebrate the traitor's death (2 Samuel 18:32). This drives David into a storm of grief (2 Samuel 18:33) which Joab will need to disrupt (2 Samuel 19:5–8).
