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Text -- 2 Samuel 18:19--19:7 (NET)
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Context
David Learns of Absalom’s Death
18:19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said , “Let me run and give the king the good news that the Lord has vindicated him before his enemies .”
18:20 But Joab said to him, “You will not be a bearer of good news today . You will bear good news some other day , but not today , for the king’s son is dead .”
18:21 Then Joab said to the Cushite , “Go and tell the king what you have seen .” After bowing to Joab , the Cushite ran off .
18:22 Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab , “Whatever happens , let me go after the Cushite .” But Joab said , “Why is it that you want to go , my son ? You have no good news that will bring you a reward .”
18:23 But he said, “Whatever happens , I want to go !” So Joab said to him, “Then go !” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain , and he passed the Cushite .
18:24 Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates , and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall . When he looked , he saw a man running by himself .
18:25 So the watchman called out and informed the king . The king said , “If he is by himself , he brings good news .” The runner came ever closer .
18:26 Then the watchman saw another man running . The watchman called out to the gatekeeper , “There is another man running by himself .” The king said , “This one also is bringing good news .”
18:27 The watchman said , “It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok .” The king said , “He is a good man , and he comes with good news .”
18:28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king , “Greetings !” He bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and said , “May the Lord your God be praised because he has defeated the men who opposed my lord the king !”
18:29 The king replied , “How is the young man Absalom ?” Ahimaaz replied , “I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me, your servant , but I don’t know what it was all about.”
18:30 The king said , “Turn aside and take your place here.” So he turned aside and waited .
18:31 Then the Cushite arrived and said , “May my lord the king now receive the good news ! The Lord has vindicated you today and delivered you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you!”
18:32 The king asked the Cushite , “How is the young man Absalom ?” The Cushite replied , “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who have plotted against you be like that young man !”
18:33 The king then became very upset . He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept . As he went he said , “My son , Absalom ! My son , my son , Absalom ! If only I could have died in your place ! Absalom , my son , my son !”
19:1 Joab was told , “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom .”
19:2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day , “The king is grieved over his son .”
19:3 That day the people stole away to go to the city the way people who are embarrassed steal away in fleeing from battle .
19:4 The king covered his face and cried out loudly , “My son , Absalom ! Absalom , my son , my son !”
19:5 So Joab visited the king at his home . He said , “Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day , as well as the lives of your sons , your daughters , your wives , and your concubines .
19:6 You seem to love your enemies and hate your friends ! For you have as much as declared today that leaders and servants don’t matter to you. I realize now that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today , it would be all right with you.
19:7 So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to your servants . For I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight ! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time !”
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
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NET Notes: 2Sa 18:23 Heb “he”; the referent (Joab) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
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NET Notes: 2Sa 18:25 Heb “he”; the referent (the runner) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
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NET Notes: 2Sa 18:31 Heb “for the Lord has vindicated you today from the hand of all those rising against you.”
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NET Notes: 2Sa 18:33 The Lucianic Greek recension and Syriac Peshitta lack this repeated occurrence of “my son” due to haplography.
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