2 samuel 18:25 - The watchman cried, and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” He came closer and closer.

Generated Verse: 2 samuel 18:25

What does "2 samuel 18:25" mean?


This verse is part of the aftermath of the battle between King David's forces and the rebel army led by his son Absalom. The verse describes the arrival of a messenger to King David, who is waiting anxiously to hear the outcome of the battle. Let's break it down:

"The watchman cried, and told the king." This establishes that a watchman stationed to look out for approaching people sees someone coming and alerts King David. "Cried" likely means shouted or announced loudly.

"The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” This reveals David's keen observation and strategic thinking. If only one messenger is coming, it suggests that the news he carries is significant. Usually, if a battle went well, multiple messengers would be sent to share the good news. A single messenger often indicated important, and possibly bad, news. The phrase "news in his mouth" is a common idiom indicating that he has information to share.

"He came closer and closer." This simply notes the messenger's approach, building suspense and emphasizing the growing anticipation of David and those around him.

In essence, this verse is setting the stage for the unfolding of the news about Absalom's fate and the outcome of the battle. It highlights David's anxiety, his awareness of battlefield communication protocols, and the impending arrival of a messenger with critical information. It creates suspense and foreshadows potentially difficult news.

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