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

18During his lifetime, Absalom had built a monument to himself in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to carry on my name.” He named the monument after himself, and it is known as Absalom’s Monument to this day. 19Then Zadok’s son Ahimaaz said, “Let me run to the king with the good news that the Lord has rescued him from his enemies.” “No,” Joab told him, “it wouldn’t be good news to the king that his son is dead. You can be my messenger another time, but not today.” 21Then Joab said to a man from Ethiopia, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” The man bowed and ran off. 22But Ahimaaz continued to plead with Joab, “Whatever happens, please let me go, too.” “Why should you go, my son?” Joab replied. “There will be no reward for your 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 17:16“Quick!” he told them. “Find David and urge him not to stay at the shallows of the Jordan River tonight. He must go across at once into the wilderness beyond. Otherwise he will die and his entire army with him.”
• 2 Samuel 18:5And the king gave this command to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai: “For my sake, deal gently with young Absalom.” And all the troops heard the king give this order to his commanders.

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