2 Samuel 18:28

18:19-33 By directing David to give God thanks for his victory, Ahimaaz prepared him for the news of his son's death. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. Some think David's wish arose from concern about Absalom's everlasting state; but he rather seems to have spoken without due thought. He is to be blamed for showing so great fondness for a graceless son. Also for quarrelling with Divine justice. And for opposing the justice of the nation, which, as king, he had to administer, and which ought to be preferred before natural affection. The best men are not always in a good frame; we are apt to over-grieve for what we over-loved. But while we learn from this example to watch and pray against sinful indulgence, or neglect of our children, may we not, in David, perceive a shadow of the Saviour's love, who wept over, prayed for, and even suffered death for mankind, though vile rebels and enemies.

And Ahimaaz called and said unto the king,.... As soon as he came so near as to be heard by him, before he came up to him, he said with a loud voice: all is well; the king's army has had success, beat the rebels, and obtained a complete victory: or "peace" (e); for it is but one word in the original, which signifies all happiness and prosperity, and this he wished the king; and so it is the same as if he had said, God save the king, may all happiness attend him: and he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king; when he came nearer to him, not only in reverence of him, but in thankfulness to God: and said, blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king; in which he ascribes the victory, not to Joab and his army, but to the Lord, to whom he gives thanks; and this agreeably to his character as a good man, and a priest of the Lord. (e) Sept. "pax", Montanus, Pagninus; "salus", Tigurine version; "salve rex", V. L.

28 . All is well ] Lit. Peace! The usual word of greeting had special significance at such a time. he fell down ] An act of homage to the king. See note on ch. 2 Samuel 14:4 , and cp. 1 Samuel 20:41 ; 1 Samuel 25:23 . delivered up ] Lit. shut up : restrained and confined within bounds, instead of leaving them at large to work their will. Cp. 1 Samuel 17:46 ; Psalm 31:8 , and the opposite expression in ch. 2 Samuel 22:20 .

Verse 28. - And said unto the king, All is well; Hebrew, Peace. This was the ordinary salutation among the Israelites, but its hurried exclamation on the part of the breathless runner was probably intended to convey the idea given in the Authorized Version. Hath delivered up the men, etc; Hebrew, hath hedged , or shut in (see upon this expression the note on 1 Samuel 17:46, and comp. Psalm 31:8 ). Both there and in 2 Samuel 22:20 prosperity is compared to the being in a broad place, where there is freedom to act (see also note on 2 Samuel 13:2). 2 Samuel 18:28

Ahimaaz called - This marks the eager haste with which, before he had quite reached the king, he shouted out the pithy decisive word of good tidings, "Shalom!" Peace! Hath delivered - See the margin. The figure seems to be that of confining a person within the power of his enemy, in opposition to "giving him his liberty" "in a large room," to work what mischief he pleases.

24-32. David sat between the two gates—that is, in the tower-house on the wall that overhung the gate of Mahanaim. Near it was a watchtower, on which a sentinel was posted, as in times of war, to notify every occurrence. The delicacy of Ahimaaz' communication was made up by the unmistakable plainness of Cushi's. The death of Absalom was a heavy trial, and it is impossible not to sympathize with the outburst of feeling by which David showed that all thoughts of the victory he had won as a king were completely sunk in the painful loss he had sustained as a father. The extraordinary ardor and strength of his affection for this worthless son break out in the redundancy and vehemence of his mournful ejaculations.

## Unto the wall; unto the top of the wall or tower upon the gate, where watchmen used to watch. Compare 2Ki_9:17 Eze_33:2. ## 2 Samuel 18:25 There is tidings in his mouth; he is sent with some special message; which was a very probable conjecture; for if he had run or fled from the enemy, many others would have followed him. 2 Samuel 18:26 No text from Poole on this verse. 2 Samuel 18:27 He loves me well, and therefore would not afflict me with evil tidings. ## 2 Samuel 18:28 Into thy hand and power; or, to destruction. Compare 1Sa_24:18 26:8 . ## 2 Samuel 18:29 The king ’ s servant, Cushi. ## I knew not what it was; he seems to tell an untruth, as is evident from 2Sa_18:20, because he now plainly perceived what Joab foretold him, that such tidings would be very unwelcome to David. But he made a bad choice, to offend God with a lie, rather than to displease the king with a truth. Yet thus far it might be true, that though he had reason to think Absalom was dead, yet was not able to give account of the particulars which concerned it, wherewith Cushi was intrusted. 2 Samuel 18:30 No text from Poole on this verse. 2 Samuel 18:31 No text from Poole on this verse. 2 Samuel 18:32 May they perish and be cut off, as he is. ## 2 Samuel 18:33 Went up to the chamber over the gate; retiring himself from all men and business, that he might wholly give up himself to lamentation.

46 . fell upon his face ] a mark of respect—whether to God, as Genesis 17:3 , or to men, 2 Samuel 9:6 ; 2 Samuel 14:4 . and worshipped Daniel ] bowed down to Daniel,—the word used in Daniel 3:5-7 &c. of adoration paid to a deity. In the Targums, however, the same word is used (for the Heb. to prostrate oneself to ) of obeisance done to a human superior (as 2 Samuel 14:33 ; 2 Samuel 18:21 ; 2 Samuel 18:28 ; 2 Samuel 24:20 ); so that it does not necessarily imply the payment of divine honour. that they should offer ] lit. pour out ,—the word used of pouring out a libation or drink-offering ( 2 Kings 16:13 , and elsewhere), though here employed evidently in a more general sense. an oblation ] The word means properly a present , especially one offered as a mark of homage or respect ( Genesis 32:13 ; Genesis 43:11 ); it is also used generally in the sense of an oblation presented to God ( Genesis 4:3-5 ; 1 Samuel 2:17 ), as well as technically, in the priestly terminology, of the ‘meal-offering’ (Leviticus 3 &c.). The second of these three senses is the most probable here. sweet odours ] lit. rests or contentments .