2 Samuel 18:19

Ahimaaz Zadok

¹⁷ They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home.

¹⁸ During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.

Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

²⁰ But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”

²¹ So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
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.
WEB: Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and carry the king news, how the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
ASV: Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that Jehovah hath avenged him of his enemies.
DARBY: And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me run, I pray, and carry the king the news that Jehovah has avenged him of his enemies.
BLB: And Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me run now to the king and take the news, how YHWH has avenged him of his enemies.”

ÅB: Akima'as, Sadoks sønn, sa til Joab: La meg få springe avsted til kongen med det gledelige budskap at Herren har hjulpet ham til hans rett mot hans fiender!
OTB: Da sa Ahimaas, Sadoks sønn: "La meg løpe og bringe nyheten til kongen, at Herren har rettferdiggjort ham ved å befri ham fra hans fienders hånd."
B1930: Akima'as, Sadoks sønn, sa til Joab: La mig få springe avsted til kongen med det gledelige budskap at Herren har hjulpet ham til hans rett mot hans fiender!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Samuel 15:36
Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.”
Read in context
2 Samuel 18:31
Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”
Read in context
Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”
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Psalms 7:6
Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; rise up against the fury of my enemies. Awake, my God, and ordain judgment.
Read in context
Psalms 9:4
For You have upheld my just cause; You sit on Your throne judging righteously.
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2 Samuel 18:27–29
The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.”
Read in context
2 Samuel 18:23
“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied. “Then run!” Joab told him. So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite.
Read in context
Psalms 10:18
to vindicate the fatherless and oppressed, that the men of the earth may strike terror no more.
Read in context