2 Samuel 18 31

2 Samuel 18:31 kjv

And, behold, Cushy came; and Cushy said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

2 Samuel 18:31 nkjv

Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, "There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you."

2 Samuel 18:31 niv

Then the Cushite arrived and said, "My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you."

2 Samuel 18:31 esv

And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, "Good news for my lord the king! For the LORD has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you."

2 Samuel 18:31 nlt

Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, "I have good news for my lord the king. Today the LORD has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you."

2 Samuel 18 verses

2 Samuel 18 31 Meaning

This verse marks the moment the second messenger, a Cushite, arrives before King David and straightforwardly delivers the news of the decisive victory over Absalom's rebellion. The messenger's primary statement emphasizes that the triumph is not merely a military success, but an act of divine justice and deliverance, with the LORD Himself having "avenged" David of all who rose against him. This declaration highlights God's sovereignty and His active role in upholding His anointed king, even in the midst of internal conflict.

2 Samuel 18 31 Context

2 Samuel chapter 18 details the climactic battle of Absalom's rebellion. Despite David's explicit instruction to his commanders to deal gently with Absalom, Joab, David's military commander, ensured Absalom's death. David remained behind at Mahanaim, anxiously awaiting news of the battle's outcome (v. 24-27). Two runners are dispatched: Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and a Cushite servant. Ahimaaz, being mindful of David's affection for Absalom, chose not to explicitly deliver the news of Absalom's death, though he did convey the victory. The Cushite, arriving second but speaking first regarding the key point of vengeance, bluntly and unambiguously delivers the full, albeit painful, news to David in the following verses (v. 32-33). This verse serves as the initial, unambiguous declaration of triumph and divine intervention from the second messenger.

2 Samuel 18 31 Word analysis

• And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said,

  • "Cushite" (כּוּשִׁי - Kûshî): Refers to someone from Cush (ancient Ethiopia/Nubia). Cushites were often known as swift runners. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, foreigners sometimes served in official capacities in courts, valued perhaps for their impartiality in internal affairs. The Cushite's presence as a key messenger, especially when a trusted Israelite (Ahimaaz) hesitates, is a narrative detail emphasizing the urgency and unavoidable truth of the message, conveyed without internal tribal or political sensitivities.
  • "came" (בָּא - bā): Simple arrival. The repetition of "Cushite" highlights his definitive presence and separate message from Ahimaaz.
  • "said" (וַיֹּאמֶר - waYyo’mer): Standard Hebrew verb for speaking. Indicates direct communication.

• “Let my lord the king hear good news, for the LORD has avenged you this day of all who rose against you.”

  • "my lord the king" (אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ - Adoniy haMelech): A respectful and formal address to the sovereign, affirming David's royal authority even in the aftermath of a rebellion against it. It underscores the messenger's loyalty to David's kingship.
  • "hear good news" (תִּשָּׂרֵה בְּשׂוֹרָה טוֹבָה - tiśśārêh vesōrāh tōvah): Literally, "may good tidings be brought to you." The messenger introduces his statement as "good news." This is powerfully ironic because the details of this victory include David's beloved son's death, which will deeply wound him. The "good news" refers specifically to the national and royal victory, the end of the rebellion, and the restoration of David's reign.
  • "for the LORD has avenged you" (כִּי־דִבֶּר יְהוָה אֹתְךָ נַפְשָׁטִית - kî dibber YHWH ʾōtekhā nafshetîth). No, the Hebrew here is ki hifkid Yahweh otka.
    • Correct Hebrew is כִּי־הִפְקִיד יְהוָה אֹתְךָ (kî hiphqîd YHWH 'ōthkā).
    • הִפְקִיד (hiphqîd), the Hiphil form of פָּקַד (paqad), carries a wide range of meanings including "to muster," "to appoint," "to visit (with favor or judgment)," "to hold accountable," or "to avenge." In this context, it unequivocally means "to take action against" or "to deal with decisively for you," implying "avenged." It's a statement of divine action and judgment, not just military victory. It signifies that God actively intervened to bring about justice.
    • "the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God. Explicitly attributes the victory and justice to divine intervention. This removes any ambiguity; the triumph is seen as God's doing on behalf of His anointed.
  • "this day" (הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה - hayyôm hazzeh): Emphasizes the immediacy and conclusiveness of the event. The divine vindication occurred now, completely.
  • "of all who rose against you" (מִכָּל־קָמִים עָלֶיךָ - mikkol qāmîm 'āleyka): Literally, "from all who stood up against you." Refers to the rebels, especially those who joined Absalom's conspiracy. This broad phrase covers the entire scope of the rebellion and assures David that all threats from this uprising have been neutralized by divine action.

2 Samuel 18 31 Bonus section

The narrative choice of having a Cushite deliver the most crucial and difficult part of the news, especially after Ahimaaz's indirect approach, might underscore that God's truth, though potentially painful, can come through any vessel, irrespective of their background. It may also emphasize the purity and unvarnished nature of the message from a "neutral" outsider who simply reports the facts from a divine perspective. This incident contrasts how different individuals cope with conveying hard truths to authority figures and subtly reinforces the concept that God's plan unfolds irrespective of human sensitivities.

2 Samuel 18 31 Commentary

This verse functions as a concise theological announcement disguised as a military report. The Cushite, with unflinching directness, cuts to the core of the victory's significance: it is a divine intervention. By attributing the vengeance directly to YHWH, the messenger not only declares David's political and military triumph but also reaffirms his divine election and God's continued covenant loyalty. This divine validation would have been paramount for David, legitimizing his return to the throne. The "good news" is fundamentally the reestablishment of the kingdom through God's active hand, regardless of the tragic personal cost that immediately follows in David's interaction with the messenger. The explicit mention of the "LORD avenging" demonstrates that the chronicler wishes to highlight God's sovereignty over the affairs of human kingship and rebellion. This message underscores that God’s justice prevails even through painful circumstances, affirming that opposition to His anointed is ultimately opposition to Him.