2 Samuel 18:31

Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Cushite messenger approaches King David immediately after a runner stops to wait and delivers news of military victory over the king's rebels.

The words — The Hebrew יִתְבַּשֵּׂר (yitbaśśēr) literally commands the king to "receive the good news," while the phrase אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ (ʾădōnî hammêleḵ) formally addresses David as "my lord the king."

The thread — The Cushite’s declaration echoes the theme of divine retribution in Deuteronomy 32:35 and parallels Ahimaaz’s earlier offer to bring the same victory report in 2 Samuel 18:19.

Why it lands — The text records a messenger’s formal announcement of military triumph before David’s immediate pivot to Absalom’s fate, requiring the reader to confront how political victory and personal grief operate simultaneously.

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

וְהִנֵּ֥הve./hi.Nehand/ here!הַכּוּשִׁ֖יha./ku.Shithe/ Cushite בָּ֑אBa'[was] coming וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said הַכּוּשִׁ֗יha./ku.Shithe/ Cushite יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙yit.ba.Serlet him receive [the] news אֲדֹנִ֣י'a.do.N/ilord/ my הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king כִּֽי־ki-for שְׁפָטְךָ֤she.fa.te./Khahe has vindicated/ you יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh הַיּ֔וֹםhai./Yomthis/ day מִיַּ֖דmi./Yadfrom/ [the] hand of כָּל־kol-all הַקָּמִ֥יםha./ka.Mimthose/ [who] rose up עָלֶֽיךָ׃ ס'a.Lei./khaon/ you

King James Version

And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

Cross-references

2 Samuel 18:19 Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”
Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”
2 Samuel 18:28 Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” And he bowed facedown before the king. He continued, “Blessed be the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.”
2 Samuel 22:48 the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me,
Psalms 58:10 The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
Psalms 94:1 O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.
Psalms 124:2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us,
Luke 18:7 Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?