Bible Strands
2 Samuel 18:20
But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joab addresses Ahimaaz at the moment battle news reaches the camp, rejecting the messenger’s request to run to David. The king’s son Absalom has just died, making immediate celebration inappropriate.
The words — The Hebrew בְּשׂוֹרָה (besorah) denotes the specific report of victory, while אִישׁ (ish) marks the formal qualification required to deliver it. Joab denies Ahimaaz the status of a legitimate bearer of this message on this day.
The thread — The urgency of relaying battle outcomes mirrors the command in 2 Samuel 17:16 to warn David to cross the river quickly. The contrast between Ahimaaz’s eager running and the actual messenger’s departure aligns with the watchman’s observation in 2 Samuel 18:27 about the runner’s pace.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that political or military success does not automatically grant access to the king’s presence. It requires readers to distinguish between personal ambition and the precise timing of royal protocol.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 17:16 Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’”
- 2 Samuel 18:5 Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom.
- 2 Samuel 18:27 The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” “This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.”
- 2 Samuel 18:29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”
- 2 Samuel 18:33 The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”