サムエル記Ⅱ 18:21-27 JCB

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:25

If he be alone , there is tidings - That is, good tidings. For if the battle had been lost men would have been running in different directions through the country. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:19-33

The facts are: 1 . Ahimaaz being eager to convey tidings of victory to the king, is denied permission by Joab, who, however, sends Cushi. 2 . Persisting in his desire to run after Cushi, Joab at last allows him to go. 3 . The watchman at the gate of the city reports to the king that a runner is in sight, followed by another, whereupon David takes courage, and hopes for good news. 4 . On Ahimaaz being the first to arrive, he briefly announces that all is well, and then... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:21

Cushi . This is not a proper name, but signifies that he was an Ethiopian, that is, a negro slave in Joab's service. Joab was unwilling to expose Ahimaaz to me king's displeasure, and we gather from 2 Samuel 18:27 that the sending of a person of low rank would be understood to signify evil tidings. The bearer of good news received a present, and therefore the passing over all Joab's personal friends to send a slave was proof that the message was not expected to bring the bearer honour or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:22

Seeing … thou hast no tidings ready. This was not true; there were most important tidings ready. But it is the translation which is in fault. What Joab said is, "Seeing thou hast no tidings that find," that is, no message that will find for thee the king's favour and a reward. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:23

Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain; Hebrew, the kikkar, or Jordan valley. The battle, as we saw in 2 Samuel 18:6 , was fought on the eastern side of the river, and Absalom's army, in their flight, would endeavour to reach the fords of the Jordan (comp. 12:5 ); and probably Joab had pursued them for some distance before the man found in the thicket the body of the unfortunate Absalom. The large slaughter of twenty thousand men ( 2 Samuel 18:7 ) proves that the defeated rebels were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:24

David sat between the two gates. The gateway was in a tower in the city walls, and David was sitting in the space between the inner and outer gates. Over this space was a chamber, mentioned in 2 Samuel 18:33 , while the sentinel was posted upon the front wall over the outer gate. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:25

If he be alone. In case of defeat there would have been a crowd of runaways in eager flight. And when soon afterwards a second courier is seen, as he also is alone, and comes by a different route, his appearance only suggests the idea of completer tidings. And quickly the foremost is recognized by his running as the son of the high priest, and David is then assured that all has gone well, because Joab would not have sent a man of such rank to be the bearer of bad news. The word good may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:27

A good messenger of good news. "He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings." Underlying this phrase is probably the feeling that there is a congruity between good tidings and a good man. David may have thought that such a messenger as Ahimaaz would not have been sent with bad news; and, indeed, Joab was unwilling that he should run with the news, because he knew how grievous part of it would be to David. It may be permissible to take these words as applicable to the proclaimers of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 18:21

Cushi - “The Cushite,” a foreign slave, perhaps of Joab’s, whom he did not scruple to expose to David’s anger. If, however, it is a name, it must be rendered “Haccushi.” In the title to Psalms 7:0, “Cush, the Benjamite,” cannot mean this Cushi, since the contents of the Psalm are not suitable to this occasion. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 18:23

The plain - The floor of the valley through which the Jordan runs. The Cushite did not run by that road, but took the road over the hills, which may well have been the shorter but also the more difficult road. The two roads would probably meet a short distance from Mahanaim. These words, which have been thought to prove that the battle took place on the west of Jordan, are a clear proof that it took place on the east, because if the runners had had to cross the Jordan, they must both have come... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 18:25

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:19-33

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:21

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:22

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:23

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:24

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:25

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 18:27

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 18:21

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 18:23

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