2 samuel 18:28 - Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
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What does "2 samuel 18:28" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 18:28 is a crucial moment in the story of David's son Absalom's rebellion. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, 'All is well.'" This is a coded or understated message. Ahimaaz is being deliberately vague. He knows Absalom is dead, but he's reluctant to be the one to deliver the full, devastating news to David (who dearly loved his son, even in rebellion). His statement, "All is well," is technically true in the sense that the battle is over and David's kingdom is secure, but it avoids the painful truth.
"He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth..." This is a traditional gesture of respect and submission to the king.
"...and said, 'Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!'" This is the key part of the verse and carries several layers of meaning:
"Blessed is Yahweh your God...": Ahimaaz attributes the victory to God. This is important because it frames the outcome not just as a military triumph, but as a divine intervention on behalf of David.
"...who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!": This part refers to the defeat of Absalom's rebel forces. The phrase "lifted up their hand against my lord the king" is a euphemism for rebellion and an act of treason against David's divinely ordained authority. Ahimaaz is carefully choosing his words to avoid directly mentioning Absalom's death. He emphasizes that it was the rebels who were defeated, subtly implying that Absalom was among them without explicitly saying so.
In summary, the verse portrays Ahimaaz delivering the news of the victory to David, but doing so cautiously and diplomatically. He wants to celebrate the triumph and acknowledge God's role, but he avoids the explicit and potentially devastating news of Absalom's death, hoping that someone else will break the news. His words are carefully crafted to convey the good news while shielding David, at least temporarily, from the full weight of the tragedy.
The significance of this verse lies in its dramatic irony. The reader knows Absalom is dead, and the verse creates tension and anticipation as we wait for David to learn the truth and see his reaction. It highlights the complex relationship between David and his son, the conflicting emotions of victory and loss, and the political necessity of celebrating the outcome of the battle. It's also a good example of how people in ancient times could be circumspect and use indirect language, especially when delivering sensitive news to a king.
2 samuel 18:28 - Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, “All is well.” He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, “Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!”
What does "2 samuel 18:28" mean?
This verse from 2 Samuel 18:28 is a crucial moment in the story of David's son Absalom's rebellion. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Ahimaaz called, and said to the king, 'All is well.'" This is a coded or understated message. Ahimaaz is being deliberately vague. He knows Absalom is dead, but he's reluctant to be the one to deliver the full, devastating news to David (who dearly loved his son, even in rebellion). His statement, "All is well," is technically true in the sense that the battle is over and David's kingdom is secure, but it avoids the painful truth.
"He bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth..." This is a traditional gesture of respect and submission to the king.
"...and said, 'Blessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!'" This is the key part of the verse and carries several layers of meaning:
"Blessed is Yahweh your God...": Ahimaaz attributes the victory to God. This is important because it frames the outcome not just as a military triumph, but as a divine intervention on behalf of David.
"...who has delivered up the men who lifted up their hand against my lord the king!": This part refers to the defeat of Absalom's rebel forces. The phrase "lifted up their hand against my lord the king" is a euphemism for rebellion and an act of treason against David's divinely ordained authority. Ahimaaz is carefully choosing his words to avoid directly mentioning Absalom's death. He emphasizes that it was the rebels who were defeated, subtly implying that Absalom was among them without explicitly saying so.
In summary, the verse portrays Ahimaaz delivering the news of the victory to David, but doing so cautiously and diplomatically. He wants to celebrate the triumph and acknowledge God's role, but he avoids the explicit and potentially devastating news of Absalom's death, hoping that someone else will break the news. His words are carefully crafted to convey the good news while shielding David, at least temporarily, from the full weight of the tragedy.
The significance of this verse lies in its dramatic irony. The reader knows Absalom is dead, and the verse creates tension and anticipation as we wait for David to learn the truth and see his reaction. It highlights the complex relationship between David and his son, the conflicting emotions of victory and loss, and the political necessity of celebrating the outcome of the battle. It's also a good example of how people in ancient times could be circumspect and use indirect language, especially when delivering sensitive news to a king.