2 Samuel 18

2 Samuel 18

Meyer - Our Daily Homily - 2 Samuel 18:22–23 Wherefore wilt thou run? ... Come what may, said he, I will run. (R. V.) Joab did not love David, as Ahimaaz did, and could not understand what made the young man so eager to carry the tidings. Doubtless Ahimaaz and Cushi entirely misinterpreted the heart of David, and thought that he would be glad to hear that the rebellion was stamped out, and Absalom was dead. And it was because of the pleasure which he thought to give his king that the swift-footed son of Zadok pleaded for permission to run. What though there would be no reward, or that it would fall to the lot of Cushi, who had already started at Joab’s command— that mattered not, the love of David constrained him. How often that question of reward is thrown at the servants of God. It is one of the favorite taunts of the world; as Satan said of job, that we do as we do because we are paid. “Doth Job serve God for nought?” And nothing so startles men as disinterested service. They cannot account for it; but it wins their respect. “Reward or no reward; recompense or none; smiles or tears, come what may, let me run.” That is the spirit that becomes a Christian, and convinces the world. “The love of Christ constraineth us.” Ahimaaz outran Cushi. The one was a volunteer for love’s dear sake; the other, a bond-servant, doing as he was told. Love loaned wings to his feet, and speeding past his fellow bore him first into David’s presence. So God’s will is done in heaven: “The cherubim ran and returned like a flash of lightning.” So God’s will is done on earth: “They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail!” 2 Samuel 18:23 "But whatever happens," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite. 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AHIMAAZ PASSED THE CUSHITE RUNNER But whatever happens," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed up the Cushite - The NLT explains "Then Ahimaaz took a shortcut across the plain of the Jordan and got to Mahanaim ahead of the man from Cush." 2 Samuel 18:24 Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. between: 2Sa 18:4 1Sa 4:13 the watchman: 2Ki 9:17-20 Isa 21:6-9,11,12 Eze 33:2-7 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Mahanaim is in NE corner of the pink-shaded area of Gad (click to enlarge) WATCHMAN SPOTS RUNNER Now David was sitting between the two gates - The two gates would be the outer and inner gates leading into the city, Mahanaim (see above). and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself - This would have been Ahimaaz who by now considerably outran the Cushite. Watchman (06822) tsaphah means to look out, spy, keep watch and most often translated as the one who is alert and looks out, a watchman (see 1Sa. 14:16; 2Sa 13:34; Isa 21:6; Mic 7:4). It describes a guard who keeps watch, to keep an eye on something or someone, to guard someone, to watch over. Eli was "eagerly watching" in 1Sa 4:13. Tsaphah refers to God’s watching over persons while they are apart (Ge 31:49), "eyes keep watch on the nations" (Ps. 66:7). Proverbs 15:3 says "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good." The prophets were called watchmen for God (Jer. 6:17; Ezek. 3:17; 33:7; Hos. 9:8). Figuratively tsaphah means waiting to see something, such as waiting to see what God will do (Ps. 5:3; Nah. 2:1; Hab. 2:1). The wicked watch the righteous to do them harm (Ps 37:32). Gilbrant - The root carries with it the meaning of “being alert” and “active in watching” rather than simply gazing at something in the distance. Of the eighty-two occurrences of this root, about half of them are used to convey the idea of being fully aware of a situation so as to guard against any incoming enemy attack or to gain some kind of an advantage. The verb is used in the sense of the wicked who watches the righteous in order to slay him (Ps. 37:32). Inversely, the prudent woman watches over the ways of her household to take care of its needs (Pr. 31:27). It is with the same intent that the LORD watches over the nations and every individual, both the good and the wicked (Ps. 66:7; Pr. 15:3). The same root is used to express Eli’s anticipation to see the return of the Ark, “Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God” (1Sa 4:13). Most of the thirty-seven occurrences are in the participle form and function nominally, signifying a watchman. This was the intent of the call upon Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry, “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel” (Ezek. 33:7). The root also denotes the act of “overlaying or adorning something.” The verb occurs as such over forty times in the OT. Most occurrences are in connection with the adorning of the Temple and its furnishings with gold or other precious metals (Exo. 25:11, 24; 1 Ki. 6:22; 2 Chr. 3:6). But also clay pots were overlaid with glaze (Prov. 26:23). (Complete Biblical Library) Tsaphah - destined(1), keep watch(3), lookout(1), looks well(1), spies(1), watch(3), watch expectantly(1), watched(1), watching(2), watchman(14), watchman's(1), watchmen(5). Ge 31:49; 1 Sam. 4:13; 1 Sam. 14:16; 2 Sam. 13:34; 2 Sam. 18:24; 2 Sam. 18:25; 2 Sam. 18:26; 2 Sam. 18:27; 2 Ki. 9:17; 2 Ki. 9:18; 2 Ki. 9:20; Job 15:22; Ps. 5:3; Ps. 37:32; Ps. 66:7; Prov. 15:3; Prov. 31:27; Isa. 21:6; Isa. 52:8; Isa. 56:10; Jer. 6:17; Jer. 48:19; Lam. 4:17; Ezek. 3:17; Ezek. 33:2; Ezek. 33:6; Ezek. 33:7; Hos. 9:8; Mic. 7:4; Mic. 7:7; Nah. 2:1; Hab. 2:1 2 Samuel 18:25 The watchman called and told the king. And the king said, "If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth." And he came nearer and nearer. 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID THINKS ONE MEANS GOOD NEWS The watchman (tsaphah) called and told the king. And the king said, "If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth." And he came nearer and nearer - David is a bit superstitious here saying one runner is a good omen. Alternatively why might this be good news? If there were a group of men running, this would suggest they were fleeing and would signal that they had to retreat and run for their lives. On the other hand a single runner would not be fleeing for his life. 2 Samuel 18:26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running by himself." And the king said, "This one also is bringing good news." 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries WATCHMAN SPOTS SECOND RUNNER Then the watchman (tsaphah) saw another man running; and the watchman (tsaphah) called to the gatekeeper and said, "Behold, another man running by himself." And the king said, "This one also is bringing good news - Even though there are now 2 runners, David still thinks this is an "omen" of good news. 2 Samuel 18:27 The watchman said, "I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "This is a good man and comes with good news." think 2Ki 9:20 He is a good: 1Ki 1:42 Pr 25:13,25 Isa 52:7 Ro 10:15 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AHIMAAZ RECOGNIZED AS FIRST RUNNER The watchman said, "I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." And the king said, "This is a good man and comes with good news - For the third time David thinks this is an "omen" of good news. He might be thinking since it was Ahimaaz who brought him the warning that he should cross the Jordan (and that had a good result, cf 2Sa 17:17-21), then he would again be bringing a good result. 2 Samuel 18:28 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, "All is well." And he prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, "Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king." All is well: 2Sa 1:2 14:4 Blessed: 2Sa 22:27 Ge 14:20 24:27 2Ch 20:26 Ps 115:1 124:6 144:1,2 Rev 19:1-3 delivered up: 1Sa 24:18 26:8 Ps 31:8 Ahimaaz called and said to the king, "All is well." - Literally he said Shalom, peace. Sadly David's peace would soon be disturbed. And he prostrated (shachah ; Lxx - proskuneo) himself before the king with his face to the ground - He bowed facedown on the ground. TSK - he fell down upon his face, This act was not only in reverence to the king, but in humble adoration of God, whose name he praises for this victory. 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 And he said, "Blessed is the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king - Surely this must have made David nervous regarding Absalom for he was the very one who had lifted up his hand against the king! Prostrated (bowed down) (07812) (shachah ; Lxx - proskuneo) means to bow down, to prostrate oneself, to crouch, to fall down, to humbly beseech, to do reverence, to worship. The idea is to assume a prostrate position as would in paying homage to royalty (Ge 43:28) or to God (Ge 24:26, Ps 95:6). Delivered (shut)(05462) cagar/sagar means "to close, to shut up; to stop: to close up a hole in one’s flesh (Gen. 2:21); to shut, to close a door, etc. (Gen. 7:16; 19:6, 10); to shut, enclose something, e.g., Israel in the wilderness terrain (Ex. 14:3); to close the womb from being fertile (1 Sam. 1:5). In its passive uses, it means to be shut, shut up, closed (Num. 12:14, 15; Josh. 6:1; 1 Sam. 23:7; Neh. 13:19; Eccl. 12:4). In its intensive and causative stems, it means to enclose, to deliver over to someone or something (1 Sam. 17:46; 24:18); to give into another’s authority or power (Deut. 23:15; 1Sa 23:11; Amos 1:6; Obad. 1:14). 2 Samuel 18:29 The king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was." Is it well with the young man Absalom : Heb. is there peace to, etc. I saw a great. 2Sa 18:19,20,22 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID INQUIRES ABOUT ABSALOM The king said, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" - In light of the statement delivered up the men who lifted their hands against David "cuts to the chase" and asks if the young man Absalom is alright? And Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was - Ahimaaz is lying for Joab has said "the king's son is dead." (2Sa 18:20). 2 Samuel 18:30 Then the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still. 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID TELLS AHIMAAZ TO WAIT Then the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So he turned aside and stood still - Ahimaaz obeys David's command to step aside and wait. 2 Samuel 18:31 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, "Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you." the Lord: 2Sa 18:19,28 22:48,49 De 32:35,36 Ps 58:10 94:1-4 124:2,3 Lu 18:7,8 Cushi was the man Joab ordered to carry the tidings to David. He was an Ethiopian, as his name signifies, and some think he was so by birth--a black, who waited on Joab, probably one of the ten who had helped to dispatch Absalom; though it was dangerous for one of those to bring the news to David, lest his fate should be the same with theirs that reported the death of Saul and Ishbosheth to him. 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE CUSHITE'S NEWS FROM THE FRONT Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, "Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you 2 Samuel 18:32 Then the king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!" The enemies: Jdg 5:31 Ps 68:1,2 Da 4:19 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE CUSHITE'S BAD NEWS Then the king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" The same question he posed to Ahimaaz, but a different answer. And the Cushite answered, "Let the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man - The Cushite slowly but definitively informs David of the death of his son Absalom. 2 Samuel 18:33 The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!" my son: 2Sa 19:4 Would I had died instead: 2Sa 12:10-23 Ps 103:13 Pr 10:1 17:25 Jas 5:17 2 Samuel 18 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DAVID'S HEART IS DEEPLY SMITTEN The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, "O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son - Note he mentions his son five times, 3 times with the name Absalom. ESV Study Bible - O Absalom, my son, my son! David is overcome with grief. He has lost another son whom he loved. First he lost Absalom’s love and loyalty, and now he has lost Absalom’s life and all hope of reconciliation. It is possible that David is beginning to see how God’s punishment for his sin with Bathsheba (prophesied by Nathan in 2Sa 12:10-11) has tragically come to pass; but his grief is clouding his sight of his duties toward his loyal troops (2Sa 19:1-8). (Borrow ESV Study Bible)