2 Samuel 18:20

2 Samuel 18:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)“You are not the one to take the news today,” Joab told him. “You may take the news another time, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Joab said to him, "You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king's son is dead."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”

Context of 2 Samuel 18:20

18(⌞While he was still living,⌟ Absalom had taken a rock and set it up for himself in the king’s valley. He said, “I have no son to keep the memory of my name alive.” He called the rock by his name, and it is still called Absalom’s Monument today.) 19Then Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, said, “Let me run and bring the king the good news that the Lord has freed him from his enemies.” But Joab told him, “You won’t be the man carrying good news today. You can carry the news some other day. You must not deliver the news today because the king’s son is dead.” 21Then Joab said to a man from Sudan, “Go, tell the king what you saw.” The messenger bowed down with his face touching the ground in front of Joab and then ran off. 22Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, spoke to Joab again, “Whatever may happen, I also want to run after the Sudanese messenger.” “Now, son, why should you deliver the message?” Joab asked. “You won’t be rewarded for this news.”

2 Samuel 18:20 word by word

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר ל֣וֹ יוֹאָ֗ב לֹא֩ אִ֨ישׁ בְּשֹׂרָ֤ה אַתָּה֙ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וּבִשַּׂרְתָּ֖ בְּי֣וֹם אַחֵ֑ר וְהַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ לֹ֣א תְבַשֵּׂ֔ר כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֥ן בֶּן־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ מֵֽת׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto him, Thouאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• shalt not bear tidingsבְּשֹׂרָהbeώôrâh beώôrâh · good newsH1309
• this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• but thou shalt bear tidingsבָּשַׂרbâώar · to bear tidingsH1319
• anotherאַחֵר'achêr · anotherH312
• because the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• is deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 18:20

• 2 Samuel 17:16Now send messengers quickly to tell David, ‘Don’t rest tonight in the river crossings in the desert, but make sure you cross ⌞the river⌟, or Your Majesty and all the troops with him will be wiped out.’ ”
• 2 Samuel 18:5The king ordered Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” All the troops heard him give all the commanders this order regarding Absalom.

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18:20

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-33Verses 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…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Samuel 18:20

• Ahimaaz
• Readings, Select

In the dictionaries

• Joab
• Ahimaaz
• Charge
• Lift
• Pillar
• Rise
• Thrust
• Bible, the
• David
• Israel, History of

Commentaries on 2 Samuel 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings