Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

"Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, "Let me run and carry tidings to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the power of his enemies." And Joab 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." Then Joab said to the Cushite, "Go tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed before Joab and ran. Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said to him, "Why will you run, my son, seeing you have no reward for the tidings"? "Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him. "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain, and outran the Cushite."

David had executed the messenger who brought him the news of Saul's death, and also the ones who brought him the news of the death of Ishbosheth (2 Samuel 1:15-16; 4:5-12), and Joab wanted to spare Ahimaaz the danger he would encounter if he brought David the news of the death of his son Absalom. For that reason, he sent a negro slave, called here "The Cushite" with the news that he knew would break the king's heart. "Cushite was not the man's personal name, but signifies that he was an Ethiopian, that is, a negro slave in the service of Joab."[25]

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And Joab said unto him, thou shall not bear tidings this day,.... Because Joab knew the tidings of Absalom's death would not be acceptable to the king; and Ahimaaz being a good man, and the son of a priest, for whom Joab had a respect, he would not send the tidings by him, which he was sensible would not recommend him to the king:

but thou shalt bear tidings another day; when any salvation is wrought, or victory obtained, the tidings of which will be welcome:

but this day thou shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead; and thou must carry the news concerning his death, which it is not proper thou shouldest, being a priest, nor will it be to thine advantage.

Geneva Study Bible

(g) For Joab bore a good affection to Ahimaaz and doubted how David would take the report of Absalom's death.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Samuel 18:20 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.

Ver. 20. Because the king’s son is dead.] Not by a fever and a flux, with excoriation of his bowels (as died Henry, son of our Henry II - crowned by his father, but rebelling against him - after floods of tears, and a most sorrowful confession of his sin; which being by some good Ahimaaz afterwards related to his father, who hearing before of his penitency, had sent him his ring in token of forgiveness, the king fell upon the earth weeping bitterly, and mourned very sore); (a) but by a most sad stroke of divine justice in the flagrancy of his rebellion, which he had neither space nor grace to regret, that we read of. This would be heavy news to good David, as Joab well knew; and therefore, out of his love to Ahimaaz, was loath to send him with it.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

And thou shalt not be a messenger of evil tidings, which will be unwelcome to him, and prejudicial to thee.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

20.The woman said — Like Rahab, she deceived them. Compare Joshua 2:4-5.

The brook of water — The wady or stream that ran just below Bahurim.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

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.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(20) Thou shalt bear no tidings.—Ahimaaz appears to have been in favour both with David (comp. 2 Samuel 18:27) and with Joab. Joab, therefore, well knowing how painful to David would be the news of the death of Absalom, refused to let Ahimaaz bear it. The word is used, with rare exceptions, of good tidings.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

bear tidings

Heb. be a man of tidings.

17:16-21

because

5,27,29,33