2 Samuel 18:27 - Printer Friendly

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.”

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).

Second Samuel 18:19–30 follows along as two men race to tell David that his son is dead. Joab killed Absalom after the battle (2 Samuel 18:14–15). Ahimaaz, son of the priest Zadok, wants to deliver the news. Joab seems wary of how David will respond and so sends a Cushite messenger. Joab eventually lets Ahimaaz go as well, and he and the Cushite race one another to tell David. The king will react with despair (2 Samuel 19:31–33) and earn a scolding from Joab (2 Samuel 19:1–8).

In 2 Samuel 18, the rebellion ends. Absalom has built a following and revolted against David (2 Samuel 15; 17). His army is no match for David's seasoned warriors or the dangerous terrain on which the battle is fought. Absalom is pursued and killed despite David's order that he be spared. When David hears of this, he falls into grief. Joab tells David to stop disrespecting his people's sacrifice (2 Samuel 19:1–8). David leads his people back to Jerusalem and starts to repair the broken kingdom (2 Samuel 19:9–43).

Second Samuel 18 marks the fulfillment of God's curses against David. The violence and betrayal God promised David (2 Samuel 12:10–12) because of his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah (2 Samuel 11) culminate in Absalom's attempt to kill his father and take the throne (2 Samuel 15—17). David's generals make quick work of Absalom's army. Joab kills Absalom against David's direct order. David will attempt to repair the fractured kingdom, starting with forgiving his enemies (2 Samuel 19:9–43). The rift never fully heals, however, and the nation splits permanently after Solomon dies (2 Chronicles 10).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.