2 Samuel 18:30 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still.

NIV: The king said, "Stand aside and wait here." So he stepped aside and stood there.

NASB: Then the king said, 'Turn aside and stand here.' So he turned aside and stood still.

CSB: The king said, "Move aside and stand here." So he stood to one side.

NLT: Wait here,' the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside.

KJV: And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

NKJV: And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

David has just learned that the battle is over. His son's army has fallen to his own, much smaller, force (2 Samuel 18:28). God has been faithful, as David knew He would be (Psalm 3). This news was delivered by Ahimaaz, who pestered Joab until he was allowed to run to tell David about the victory (2 Samuel 18:19–23). But he can't answer David's most pressing question: "Is it well with the young Absalom?" (2 Samuel 18:28–29). Too late, the eager younger man understand the situation and claims that he does not know.

The watchman has seen a second runner, so David tells Ahimaaz to stand aside while he waits. The second man, a Cushite, is more forthcoming, but less tactful. When David asks about Absalom, the messenger cheerfully implies that Abaslom is dead. (2 Samuel 18:31–32).

David will collapse in grief (2 Samuel 18:33). This earns him a scolding from Joab, who sees that David's men are hiding in shame rather than celebrating (2 Samuel 19:1–3). He warns David about honoring a traitor more than his loyal subjects; if this continues, David's support will disappear forever (2 Samuel 19:5–7).

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.