2 Samuel 18:20 - Forerunner Commentary

2 Samuel 18:20

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.

Verse Comparison: 2 Samuel 18:20

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American Standard Version
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, because the king's son is dead.

Amplified® Bible
Joab told him, You shall not carry news today, but another time. Today you shall bear no news, for the king's son is dead.

Contemporary English Version
Joab answered, "You're not the one to tell the king that his son is dead. You can take him a message some other time, but not today."

Darby English Version
And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not be a bearer of news to-day, but thou shalt carry the news another day; but to-day thou shalt carry no news, because the king's son is dead.

Good News Bible
"No," Joab said, "today you will not take any good news. Some other day you may do so, but not today, for the king's son is dead."

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
But Joab said to him, "You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king's son is dead."

New International Version
"You are not the one to take the news today," Joab told him. "You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king's son is dead."

New King James Version
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.”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
But Joab said to him, "You should not carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king's son has died."

Revised Standard Version
And Jo'ab said to him, "You are not to carry tidings today; you may carry tidings another day, but today you shall carry no tidings, because the king's son is dead."

Young's Literal Translation
and Joab saith to him, `Thou art not a man of tidings this day, but thou hast borne tidings on another day, and this day thou dost not bear tidings, because the king's son `is' dead.'

New English Translation
But Joab said to him, “You will not be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today,¹ for the king’s son is dead.”

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