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(Now Absalom, in his lifetime, had taken and set up for himself a pillar, which is in the King’s Valley, for he said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he called the pillar by his name and it has been called Absalom’s Monument to this day.) 19Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Let me now run and bring the king news that Adonai has vindicated him against the hand of his enemies.” But Joab said to him, “You are not to be the bearer of news today. You may do it another day, but today you shall bear no news—for the king’s son is dead.” 21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running. 22But Ahimaaz son of Zadok once again said to Joab, “Whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” “Why should you run, my son,” Joab said, “since you would have no news worth telling?”

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 therefore send word quickly and tell David saying, ‘Don’t spend the night at the fords in the wilderness but by all means, cross over or else the king and all the people with him may be swallowed up.’”
• 2 Samuel 18:5Then the king charged Joab, Abishai and Ittai saying, “Deal gently with the young man Absalom for my sake.” Now all the troops heard the king’s charge to all the commanders concerning 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