2 Samuel 18 19

2 Samuel 18:19 kjv

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

2 Samuel 18:19 nkjv

Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies."

2 Samuel 18:19 niv

Now Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, "Let me run and take the news to the king that the LORD has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies."

2 Samuel 18:19 esv

Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Let me run and carry news to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies."

2 Samuel 18:19 nlt

Then Zadok's son Ahimaaz said, "Let me run to the king with the good news that the LORD has rescued him from his enemies."

2 Samuel 18 verses

2 Samuel 18 19 Meaning

In 2 Samuel 18:19, Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the priest, earnestly requests permission to deliver news to King David. The news he desires to convey is specifically about the Lord's intervention, granting David victory and deliverance from the hands of his enemies, referring to Absalom's rebellious forces. This statement expresses Ahimaaz's eagerness to be the first to bring good tidings of divine salvation to the anxious king.

2 Samuel 18 19 Context

Chapter 18 of 2 Samuel describes the decisive battle between King David's forces and the rebel army led by his son, Absalom. Prior to this verse, Absalom has been killed by Joab, David's military commander, against David's explicit orders not to harm him. The battle itself has concluded with a decisive victory for David's loyalists. David is anxiously waiting at the city gate for news, deeply concerned about his son's fate. This verse introduces Ahimaaz, a priest's son known for his loyalty and swiftness, at the very moment a messenger is needed to bring news to the king. Ahimaaz's eagerness to deliver the news focuses primarily on the Lord's saving action, setting up a subtle dramatic tension regarding the unmentioned, devastating news of Absalom's death.

2 Samuel 18 19 Word analysis

• Then Ahimaaz (וַאֲחִימַעַץ - wa'achiyma'ats): "And Ahimaaz." Ahimaaz, meaning "my brother is wrath/counsel," is the son of Zadok the high priest. He is known for his loyalty to David (e.g., during Absalom's rebellion, 2 Sam 15, 17) and for his speed. His immediate request to run with the news underscores his eagerness and potential ambition, despite his priestly background.
• the son of Zadok: Zadok (צָדוֹק - Tsadōq) means "righteous." Highlighting his lineage emphasizes his position, credibility, and close relationship with King David and the established religious order. It also suggests he understands the protocol and gravity of conveying news to the king.
• said: Implies a proactive and perhaps bold step in a moment of great anticipation and uncertainty.
• "Let me run now" (אָרוּצָה נָּא - 'arutsah nā'): Literally, "Let me indeed run." This expresses intense desire, urgency, and a self-assigned mission. Ahimaaz believes himself to be the best person for this task due to his speed and status.
• and carry news (וַאֲבַשְּׂרָה - wa'avasērah): "And I will bring good news" or "glad tidings." The verb "bāsar" (בָּשָׂר) implies bringing joyful or positive news. This hints at his intention to present the outcome in the most favorable light possible for the king, focusing on the victory.
• to the king: King David, the sovereign, who is anxiously waiting for updates on the battle and, crucially, on his son Absalom. The news bearer carries significant responsibility.
• "that the LORD has delivered him" (כִּי הִפְקִיד יְהוָה - kiy hifqiyth Yehōvāh): "For Yahweh has delivered/saved him." Ahimaaz frames the victory explicitly as God's work. "Delivered" (הִפְקִיד - hipqîd – related to פקד paqad) means to "commit, appoint, deliver," but in the Hiphil stem here, it often denotes "deliver," "commit something to someone," or "give a charge." In this context, it refers to God providing victory or saving King David. This theological acknowledgment of divine aid is key.
• from the hand of his enemies: Refers to Absalom's rebel army, who had sought to depose and kill David. Acknowledging victory over enemies is conventional, but the specific mention of "his enemies" for a father's conflict with his son underscores the deep internal division and tragic nature of this particular "deliverance."

2 Samuel 18 19 Bonus section

Ahimaaz's eagerness contrasts with Joab's initial reluctance to send him (2 Sam 18:20), possibly due to Joab's knowledge that the news of Absalom's death would profoundly grieve the king, and he did not want Ahimaaz, a priest's son, to bear such heavy tidings. Ahimaaz is indeed known for his speed, successfully overtaking the Cushite messenger in a remarkable feat (2 Sam 18:23-26). His subsequent circumspect report to David (2 Sam 18:29)—focusing only on the general victory and avoiding specific details about Absalom—further highlights his sensitive and perhaps protective nature as a messenger. This brief verse sets the stage for a tense narrative as David awaits the truth of his son's fate.

2 Samuel 18 19 Commentary

Ahimaaz's plea to "run now and carry news" encapsulates a mix of loyalty, eagerness, and astute discernment. As a priest's son, he understood David's spiritual leanings and thus framed the victory as "the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies." This specific wording emphasizes divine providence in the outcome, shifting the focus from the gruesome details of the battle and Absalom's death (which he either did not know yet or chose to withhold) to the positive reality of God's intervention. His desire to be the bearer of such momentous news likely stemmed from genuine concern for the king, combined with an understanding of the honor associated with this role. It demonstrates a keen awareness of David's primary anxieties and aims to bring comfort by highlighting God's faithfulness in battle.