Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
Parallel Translations
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Joab said to him, “You must not be the bearer of news today, but you must carry news another day. But today you must carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
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And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
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And Joab said unto him: 'Thou shalt not be the bearer of tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day; but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, forasmuch as the king's son is dead.'
Cross-references (5)
Passages linked to 2 Samuel 18:20 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Samuel 17:16-21 Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, ‘Don’t lodge tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people who are with him.’ ” Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying by En Rogel; and a female servant used to go and tell them; and they went and told king David. For they might not be seen to come into the city. But a boy saw them, and told Absalom. Then they both went away quickly, and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his court; and they went down there. The woman took and spread the covering over the well’s mouth, and spread out crushed grain on it; and nothing was known. Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. After they had departed, they came up out of the well, and went and told king David; and they said to David, “Arise and pass quickly over the water; for thus has Ahithophel counseled against you.”
- 2 Samuel 18:5 The king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.” All the people heard when the king commanded all the captains concerning Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 18:27 The watchman said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good news.”
- 2 Samuel 18:29 The king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, even me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I don’t know what it was.”
- 2 Samuel 18:33 The king was much moved, and went up to the room over the gate, and wept. As he went, he said, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (7 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain For Joab bare a good affection to Ahimaaz, and…
For Joab bare a good affection to Ahimaaz, and doubted how David would take the report of Absalom’s death.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2Sa 18:20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt…
2Sa 18:20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.
Ver. 20. Because the king’s son is dead.] Not by a fever and a flux, with excoriation of his bowels (as died Henry, son of our Henry II - crowned by his father, but rebelling against him - after floods of tears, and a most sorrowful confession of his sin; which being by some good Ahimaaz afterwards related to his father, who hearing before of his penitency, had sent him his ring in token of forgiveness, the king fell upon the earth weeping bitterly, and mourned very sore); {a} but by a most sad stroke of divine justice in the flagrancy of his rebellion, which he had neither space nor grace to regret, that we read of. This would be heavy news to good David, as Joab well knew; and therefore, out of his love to Ahimaaz, was loath to send him with it.
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{a} Speed, 522.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain And thou shalt not be a messenger of evil…
And thou shalt not be a messenger of evil tidings, which will be unwelcome to him, and prejudicial to thee.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And Joab said unto him, thou shall not bear…
And Joab said unto him, thou shall not bear tidings this day,.... Because Joab knew the tidings of Absalom's death would not be acceptable to the king; and Ahimaaz being a good man, and the son of a priest, for whom Joab had a respect, he would not send the tidings by him, which he was sensible would not recommend him to the king:
but thou shalt bear tidings another day; when any salvation is wrought, or victory obtained, the tidings of which will be welcome:
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but this day thou shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead; and thou must carry the news concerning his death, which it is not proper thou shouldest, being a priest, nor will it be to thine advantage.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 20. The woman said — Like Rahab, she deceived…
20. The woman said — Like Rahab, she deceived them. Compare Jos_2:4-5.
The brook of water — The wady or stream that ran just below Bahurim.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 20. bear tidings] The word with rare exceptions means…
20. bear tidings] The word with rare exceptions means to bear good tidings, and this meaning should be retained here and in 2Sa_18:19. Joab would not let Ahimaaz have the thankless task of carrying news which to the king would be no good news.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (20) Thou shalt bear no tidings.—Ahimaaz appears to have…
(20) Thou shalt bear no tidings.—Ahimaaz appears to have been in favour both with David (comp. 2Sa_18:27) and with Joab. Joab, therefore, well knowing how painful to David would be the news of the death of Absalom, refused to let Ahimaaz bear it. The word is used, with rare exceptions, of good tidings.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.