2 Samuel 18 28

2 Samuel 18:28 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.

2 Samuel 18:28 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!"

2 Samuel 18:28 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."

2 Samuel 18:28 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."

2 Samuel 18:28 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."

2 Samuel 18 verses

2 Samuel 18 28 Meaning

2 Samuel 18:28 conveys Ahimaaz's triumphant and reverent declaration of victory to King David, proclaiming that all is well. This statement is immediately followed by an act of profound submission and worship, as Ahimaaz bows down to the king, blessing the LORD God for supernaturally delivering David from the rebellious forces that sought to overthrow him. It signifies not just a military win, but God's divine vindication of His anointed king and the restoration of order.

2 Samuel 18 28 Context

This verse is situated in the aftermath of the intense battle in the forest of Ephraim, where David's army, led by Joab, decisively defeated Absalom's rebel forces. Absalom himself has been killed by Joab, despite David's explicit command to spare his son's life. David is anxiously waiting at the city gate for news of the battle's outcome. Two messengers race to him: Ahimaaz, son of Zadok the priest, known for his swiftness, and a Cushite. Joab initially instructs the Cushite to deliver the sensitive news of Absalom's death, perhaps believing Ahimaaz is too impetuous or emotionally connected. However, Ahimaaz insists and is allowed to go. When Ahimaaz arrives first, he prioritizes delivering the overwhelmingly positive news of victory and God's intervention, preparing David for the full report which the Cushite is yet to deliver. His joyful report of "Shalom!" signals the end of a perilous national crisis and David's immediate security.

2 Samuel 18 28 Word analysis

• Then Ahimaaz called out:
  • Ahimaaz (אֲחִימַעַץ, 'Achiyma'ats): "Brother of wrath" or "my brother is counsel." He is the son of Zadok the priest (1 Sam 15:36) and a known loyalist to David during Absalom's rebellion (2 Sam 15:27-29, 17:17). His eagerness and speed highlight his fervor and role as a dedicated royal messenger.
  • called out (וַיִּקְרָא, wayyiqrā): Implies a loud, urgent, and public declaration, characteristic of a herald delivering vital news to a king in an open forum at the city gate.
• and said to the king, "All is well!"
  • All is well! (שָׁלוֹם, shālōm): This is far more than a simple greeting of "peace." In this context, shālōm signifies complete wholeness, security, well-being, success, prosperity, and the restoration of order and safety. It proclaims total victory and the re-establishment of the kingdom's peace, a profound relief for David who has been in danger and distress. This declaration is strategically uttered by Ahimaaz, conveying the outcome before relaying specifics that might immediately grieve David.
• And he bowed before the king with his face to the ground
  • bowed (וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ, wayyišṯaḥū): From the root שָׁחָה (shaḥah), meaning "to bow down, prostrate oneself, do obeisance, worship." This action signifies profound reverence, deep respect, humility, submission, and often worship. In a royal context, it's an acknowledgment of supreme authority and fealty.
  • face to the ground (אַפָּיִם אַרְצָה, 'appayim 'arṣah): A posture of extreme submission and humility, commonly used when approaching royalty or God, indicating deep respect and self-abasement. It visually communicates total deference.
• and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hands against my lord the king!"
  • Blessed be the LORD your God (בָּרוּךְ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, bārûḵ YHVH 'ĕlōheyḵā): A liturgical expression of praise and adoration, acknowledging God's goodness and active involvement. YHVH (Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, highlighting His faithfulness. "Your God" personally connects David's God to this specific act of deliverance, reinforcing God's covenant loyalty to His chosen king.
  • delivered up (מַגֵּר, maggēr): From the verb נָגַר (nagar), meaning "to cast down, overthrow, deliver over into the hand." This emphasizes God's active, direct, and powerful agency in orchestrating the defeat of the rebels. It's not just a victory achieved by David's army, but by God through them.
  • the men who lifted up their hands against my lord the king! (הַאֲנָשִׁים הַמְּרִימִים יָדָם בְּדוֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ, hâ’ănāšîm hămērîm yāḏām bidōní hammĕleḵ): This phrase describes the rebels, though without directly naming Absalom or their specific rebellion. "Lifted up their hands against" is a euphemism for rebellion and violence aimed at overthrowing authority. It subtly frames the conflict as an act against David's divinely appointed rule, thereby legitimizing the judgment from God. "My lord the king" is a loyal address, reinforcing Ahimaaz's devotion to David and God's established order. This statement identifies the divine justice in the outcome.

2 Samuel 18 28 Bonus section

Ahimaaz's report demonstrates priestly insight and wisdom. As a priest's son, he understands the deeper spiritual implications of the war, seeing it as God's judgment against rebellion rather than just a human conflict. His choice to declare Shalom and bless the LORD first before any other specific details not only tactfully handles David's fragile emotional state but also properly aligns the national understanding of the event: it was ultimately God's work. The rapid shift from David's distress to a declaration of God's peace is significant; it foreshadows a new shalom for Israel, albeit one mingled with David's personal grief over Absalom's demise. The use of "your God" by Ahimaaz further highlights the intimate, covenantal relationship between Yahweh and King David, affirming David's divine election and the sanctity of his throne.

2 Samuel 18 28 Commentary

Ahimaaz's declaration in 2 Samuel 18:28 is a climactic moment of immediate relief for David and the nation. His cry of "Shalom!" transcends a simple greeting; it is a profound proclamation of the complete re-establishment of David's authority and God's peace. His act of prostration is a display of utmost respect and worship, setting the tone that this victory is not merely military but divine. By attributing the victory solely to "the LORD your God" and emphasizing God's direct act of "delivering up" the rebels, Ahimaaz correctly places God as the ultimate Victor. This redirects attention from human effort, even Joab's tactical prowess, to God's sovereign hand, who judged those who dared to lift their hands against His anointed king. The emphasis on God's judgment against rebellion serves as a timeless theological principle regarding divine authority and its defiance. This is a moment of exultant praise and worship before the imminent personal sorrow of Absalom's death.