2 Samuel 18:17-33
<05324> [laid.]
This was the ancient method of burying, whether heroes or traitors; the heap of stones being designed to perpetuate the memory of the event, whether good or bad. The Arabs in general make use of no other monument than a heap of stones over a grave. Thus, in an Arabic poem, it is related, that Hatim the father, and Adi the grandfather of Kais, having been murdered, at a time before Kais was capable of reflection, his mother kept it a profound secret; and in order to guard him against having any suspicion, she collected a parcel of stone on two hillocks in the neighbourhood, and told her son that the one was the grave of his father, and the other of his grandfather. The ancient cairns in Ireland and Scotland, and the tumuli in England, are of this kind.
set up <05324> [reared up.]
King's <04428> [the king's.]
son <01121> [I have no son.]
He ............. known <07121> [he called.]
Absalom ......................................... Absalom's Memorial <053 03027> [Absalom's place.]
Josephus says there was in his time, about two furlongs from Jerusalem, a marble pillar called Absalom's hand, as it is in the Hebrew, (See note on 1 Sa 15:12;) and there is one shown to the present day, in the valley of Jehoshaphat, which, though comparatively a modern structure, probably occupies the site of the original one set up by Absalom.
Ahimaaz <0290> [Ahimaaz.]
vindicated <08199 03027> [avenged him. Heb. judged him from the hand, etc.]
news ..... bear good news <01309 01319> [bear tidings. Heb. be a man of tidings.]
king's <04428> [because.]
Whatever ............ Why <04100> [howsoever. Heb. be what may. ready. or, convenient.]
passed ... Cushite <03569 05674> [overran Cushi.]
<08147> [between.]
watchman <06822> [the watchman.]
[Methinketh. Heb. I see.]
good ....... good <02896> [He is a good.]
Greetings <07965> [All is well. or, Peace be to thee. Heb. Peace. he fell down upon his face.]
This act was not only in reverence to the king, but in humble adoration of God, whose name he praises for this victory. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them.
praised <01288> [Blessed.]
defeated <05462> [delivered up. Heb. shut up.]
young man Absalom <05288 053 07965> [Is the young man Absalom safe? Heb. is there peace to, etc.]
I saw a great.
receive the good news <01319> [Tidings. Heb. Tidings is brought. the Lord.]
Cushi was the man Joab ordered to carry the tidings to David. He was an Ethiopian, as his name signifies, and some think he was so by birth--a black, who waited on Joab, probably one of the ten who had helped to dispatch Absalom; though it was dangerous for one of those to bring the news to David, lest his fate should be the same with theirs that reported the death of Saul and Ishbosheth to him.
enemies <0341> [The enemies.]
Thus Cushi obliquely and slowly informs David of the death of his son Absalom.
son .... son ... son .............. son ... son <01121> [O my son.]
died <04191> [would God.]
