Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:19 - 18:33

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:19 - 18:33


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David's Lament for Absalom

v. 19. Then said Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok,
who was with the troops, let me now run and bear the king tidings how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies, it was the direct divine interposition which had brought David justice.

v. 20. And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings,
be a messenger, this day, but thou shalt bear tidings an other day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings because the king's son is dead. Joab felt that the king might be angry because Absalom had been put to death, and he did not want Ahimaaz to be exposed to this anger.

v. 21. Then said Joab to Cushi,
probably an Egyptian slave in his service, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab and ran.

v. 22. Then said Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, yet again to Joab, but, howsoever,
no matter what may happen, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. He was anxious to convey what he thought was excellent news to David. And Joab, still unwilling to let the young man incur the anger of David, said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready? His message would not be profitable, since the king was bound to consider it bad, from his standpoint, and would therefore look upon him as a messenger of evil.

v. 23. But, howsoever,
just the same, said he, let me run. He was willing to take the risk. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and overran Cushi, reaching Mahanaim before the real messenger arrived.

v. 24. And David sat between the two gates,
the space between the outer and the inner gates; and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, over the outer gate, which was connected with the city wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.

v. 25. And the watchman cried and told the king,
whom his voice could reach, as he sat beneath the entrance arch or vault. And the king said, if he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth, he came as a messenger, for in the other event there would be several fugitives. And he, the runner, came apace, and drew near.

v. 26. And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called unto the porter,
the keeper of the gate, and said, Behold, another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings, he also must surely be a messenger.

v. 27. And the watchman said, Me thinketh that the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok,
for by this time he could distinguish the peculiarities of the runner's gait. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings, since Joab would certainly not have chosen him for evil news.

v. 28. And Ahimaaz,
as soon as he came into hailing distance, called and said unto the king, All is well, literally, "Peace!" or, "Hail!" And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, in an attitude of reverence, and said, Blessed be the Lord, thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. The revolt was so effectually quenched that the rebels could no longer stir.

v. 29. And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz,
in an attempt to temporize, to evade the question, answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, namely, Cushi, and me, thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. He made the impression that Absalom's fate was not get decided when Joab sent him off.

v. 30. And the king said unto him, Turn aside and stand here,
making way for the second messenger. And he turned aside and stood still.

v. 31. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king,
he came as an official messenger; for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee, that was the way in which the victory must be regarded, as a direct interposition of God.

v. 32. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, the enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man Isaiah
It was an indirect announcement of Absalom's destruction, and in a manner which properly expressed condemnation of Absalom's hostile attempt against his father and king.

v. 33. And the king,
weakly losing sight of the avenging hand of God in this death, was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, probably that used by the watchmen of the city, and wept, and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! He was more deeply afflicted by the death of this rebellious son than by any event in his life. It is a blessing of God if dangerous and rebellious people, who lead others into temptation and destruction, are destroyed by God's wrath. In such cases the believers have all reason to thank and praise God for the justice of His punishments.