2 Samuel 18:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, "All is well." And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, "Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king."

NIV: Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" He bowed down before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Praise be to the Lord your God! He has delivered up those who lifted their hands against my lord the king."

NASB: Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, 'All is well.' And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, 'Blessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.'

CSB: Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well," and paid homage to the king with his face to the ground. He continued, "Blessed be the Lord your God! He delivered up the men who rebelled against my lord the king."

NLT: Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, 'Everything is all right!' He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, 'Praise to the Lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king.'

KJV: And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

NKJV: So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”

Ahimaaz fought for the honor of bringing this news to David. The war between David's guards and Absalom's army is over. David has won. Joab tried to keep Ahimaaz from delivering the message. The general even sent another runner, a Cushite, before Ahimaaz. But when Ahimaaz pushed, Joab gave up, and Ahimaaz outran the Cushite to his king (2 Samuel 18:19–23).

When Ahimaaz gives the news that David's enemies are defeated, he doesn't get the reaction he expects. David doesn't celebrate. He doesn't ask about casualties. He has only one concern: "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" (2 Samuel 18:29).

This appears to be a moment of realization for Ahimaaz. Joab wasn't trying to keep him from telling David the war was over. He was protecting him from David's reaction when the king learned his son is dead. David understood that the battle was necessary: Absalom had encamped with an army with the intent to kill his own father. But David's primary—nearly only—concern was that Absalom would live (2 Samuel 18:5).

When Ahimaaz hears David's question, he backpedals. He lies and says, claiming that he'd been sent without knowing what happened to Absalom (2 Samuel 18:29). He can't bring himself to tell the king that his son is dead. But another runner is coming. David tells Ahimaaz to stand aside and wait. When Joab's official messenger tells David the news, David dissolves into grief (2 Samuel 18:31–33).

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.