BibleTools
2 Samuel 18:19
Compare all
17 And they took Absalom and cast him into a large pit in the woods, and alaid a very large heap of stones over him. Then all Israel bfled, everyone to his tent.  
18 Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and set up a1 pillar for himself, which is in athe King’s Valley. For he said, b“I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.” He called the pillar after his own name. And to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument.  

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

19 Then aAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the Lord has1 avenged him of his enemies.”  
20 And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed himself to Joab and ran.
22 And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”  
23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “let me run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.
24 Now David was sitting between the atwo gates. And the watchman went up to the roof over the gate, to the wall, lifted his eyes and looked, and there was a man, running alone.  
25 Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.
26 Then the watchman saw another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “There is another man, running alone!” And the king said, “He also brings news.”
27 So the watchman said,1 “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with agood news.”  
28 So Ahimaaz called out and said to the king,1 “All is well!” Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, a“Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!”  
29 The king said, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.”
30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31 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.”
32 And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?” So the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do harm, be like that young man!”

David’s Mourning for Absalom

33 Then the king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept. And as he went, he said thus: a“O my son Absalom—my son, my son Absalom—if only I had died in your place! O Absalom my son, bmy son!” 
Book Notes:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Book Notes

I & II Samuel

THE FIRST AND SECOND BOOKS OF SAMUEL. The two were, by the ancient Jews, conjoined so as to make one book, and in that form could be called the Book of Samuel with more propriety than now, the second being wholly occupied with the relation of transactions that did not take place till after the death of that eminent judge. Accordingly, in the Septuagint and the Vulgate, it is called the First and Second Books of Kings. The early portion of the First Book, down to the end of the twenty-fourth chapter, was probably written by Samuel; while the rest of it and the whole of the Second, are commonly ascribed to Nathan and Gad, founding the opinion on I Chronicles 29:29. Commentators, however, are divided about this, some supposing that the statements in I Samuel 2:26; I Samuel 3:1, indicate the hand of the judge himself, or a contemporary; while some think, from I Samuel 6:18; I Samuel 12:5; I Samuel 27:6, that its composition must be referred to a later age. It is probable, however, that these supposed marks of an after-period were interpolations of Ezra. This uncertainty, however, as to the authorship does not affect the inspired authority of the book, which is indisputable, being quoted in the New Testament (I Samuel 13:14 in Acts 13:22, and II Samuel 7:14 in Hebrews 1:5), as well as in many of the Psalms.

Join 137,255+ readers

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning

Consistent Bible study is hard to start.

The Berean gives you the starting point: one scripture and a focused commentary in your inbox each morning — read it in minutes, or go as deep as you like.

Free, daily, and spam-free. We never share your address. Unsubscribe anytime.

Close
E-mail This Page