4 Regum 18:25

Clementine Latin Vulgate

Dixit autem Saul : Sic loquimini ad David : Non habet rex sponsalia necesse, nisi tantum centum præputia Philisthinorum, ut fiat ultio de inimicis regis. Porro Saul cogitabat tradere David in manus Philisthinorum.

Parallel Translations

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Et exclamans indicavit regi: dixitque rex: Si solus est, bonus est nuntius in ore ejus. Properante autem illo, et accedente propius,

Nova Vulgata (1979)
et exclamans indicavit regi. Dixitque rex: "Si solus est, bonus est nuntius in ore eius". Properante autem illo et accedente propius,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the watchman cried and told the king,.... Called with a loud voice from the roof of the watchtower to the king, sitting between the gates, and informed him what he saw:

and the king said, if he [be] alone [there is] tidings in his mouth; for if the army was routed and fled, and were pursued, there would be more in company, or several running one after another; but being but one, it was highly improbable that he was sent express:

and he came apace, and drew near; which was another sign of his being a messenger, the haste he made towards the city.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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.