So the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
- BSB So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near,
- NKJV Then the watchman cried out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came rapidly and drew near.
- NLT He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.” As the messenger came closer,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The watchman reports the runner, and David reasons that a lone man brings news. The king interprets the sign hopefully.
Overview
David takes the single runner as a sign of tidings rather than rout, since a defeated army would flee in numbers. His hopeful reading reflects a heart longing for good news, especially about Absalom. The runner draws nearer, prolonging the suspense before the truth arrives.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 18:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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