2 Samuel 18:20

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

But Joab said to him,“You will not be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today, for the king’s son is dead.”

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Referenced Verses

  • 2 Sam 17:16-21 : 16 Now send word quickly to David and warn him,“Don’t spend the night at the fords of the wilderness tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city. 18 But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom. So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it. 19 His wife then took the covering and spread it over the top of the well and scattered some grain over it. No one was aware of what she had done. 20 When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, they asked,“Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied to them,“They crossed over the stream.” Absalom’s men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. 21 After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David,“Get up and cross the stream quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.”
  • 2 Sam 18:5 : 5 The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai:“For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.
  • 2 Sam 18:27 : 27 The watchman said,“It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said,“He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”
  • 2 Sam 18:29 : 29 The king replied,“How is the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz replied,“I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was all about.”
  • 2 Sam 18:33 : 33 (19:1) The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said,“My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • 19 David Learns of Absalom’s Death Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said,“Let me run and give the king the good news that the LORD has vindicated him before his enemies.”

  • 78%

    21 Then Joab said to the Cushite,“Go and tell the king what you have seen.” After bowing to Joab, the Cushite ran off.

    22 Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab,“Whatever happens, let me go after the Cushite.” But Joab said,“Why is it that you want to go, my son? You have no good news that will bring you a reward.”

    23 But he said,“Whatever happens, I want to go!” So Joab said to him,“Then go!” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite.

  • 2 Sam 19:4-5
    2 verses
    73%

    4 The king covered his face and cried out loudly,“My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!”

    5 So Joab visited the king at his home. He said,“Today you have embarrassed all your servants who have saved your life this day, as well as the lives of your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your concubines.

  • 2 Sam 19:1-2
    2 verses
    73%

    1 (19:2) Joab was told,“The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”

    2 So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day,“The king is grieved over his son.”

  • 72%

    18 Then Joab sent a full battle report to David.

    19 He instructed the messenger as follows:“When you finish giving the battle report to the king,

  • 72%

    18 On the seventh day the child died. But the servants of David were afraid to inform him that the child had died, for they said,“While the child was still alive he would not listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He will do himself harm!”

    19 When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he realized that the child was dead. So David asked his servants,“Is the child dead?” They replied,“Yes, he’s dead.”

  • 71%

    25 So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said,“If he is by himself, he brings good news.” The runner came ever closer.

    26 Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called out to the gatekeeper,“There is another man running by himself.” The king said,“This one also is bringing good news.”

    27 The watchman said,“It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said,“He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”

    28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king,“Greetings!” He bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and said,“May the LORD your God be praised because he has defeated the men who opposed my lord the king!”

    29 The king replied,“How is the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz replied,“I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was all about.”

    30 The king said,“Turn aside and take your place here.” So he turned aside and waited.

    31 Then the Cushite arrived and said,“May my lord the king now receive the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today and delivered you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you!”

  • 30 While they were still on their way, the following report reached David:“Absalom has killed all the king’s sons; not one of them is left!”

  • 10 But Absalom, whom we anointed as our king, has died in battle. So now why do you hesitate to bring the king back?”

  • 70%

    11 Joab replied to the man who was telling him this,“What! You saw this? Why didn’t you strike him down right on the spot? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a commemorative belt!”

    12 The man replied to Joab,“Even if I were receiving a thousand pieces of silver, I would not strike the king’s son! In our very presence the king gave this order to you and Abishai and Ittai,‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’

    13 If I had acted at risk of my own life– and nothing is hidden from the king!– you would have abandoned me.”

    14 Joab replied,“I will not wait around like this for you!” He took three spears in his hand and thrust them into the middle of Absalom while he was still alive in the middle of the oak tree.

    15 Then ten soldiers who were Joab’s armor bearers struck Absalom and finished him off.

  • 2 Sam 1:4-5
    2 verses
    70%

    4 David inquired,“How were things going? Tell me!” He replied,“The people fled from the battle and many of them fell dead. Even Saul and his son Jonathan are dead!”

    5 David said to the young man who was telling him this,“How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

  • 70%

    30 When Benaiah arrived at the tent of the LORD, he said to him,“The king says,‘Come out!’” But he replied,“No, I will die here!” So Benaiah sent word to the king and reported Joab’s reply.

    31 The king told him,“Do as he said! Strike him down and bury him. Take away from me and from my father’s family the guilt of Joab’s murderous, bloody deeds.

  • 38 Then the king said to his servants,“Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?

  • 69%

    32 Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, said,“My lord should not say,‘They have killed all the young men who are the king’s sons.’ For only Amnon is dead. This is what Absalom has talked about from the day that Amnon humiliated his sister Tamar.

    33 Now don’t let my lord the king be concerned about the report that has come saying,‘All the king’s sons are dead.’ It is only Amnon who is dead.”

  • 2 Jonathan said to him,“By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing large or small without making me aware of it. Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won’t happen!”

  • 22 So the messenger departed. When he arrived, he informed David of all the news that Joab had sent with him.

  • 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city.

  • 69%

    10 Amasa did not protect himself from the knife in Joab’s other hand, and Joab stabbed him in the abdomen, causing Amasa’s intestines to spill out on the ground. There was no need to stab him again; the first blow was fatal. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri.

    11 One of Joab’s soldiers who stood over Amasa said,“Whoever is for Joab and whoever is for David, follow Joab!”

  • 24 So Joab went to the king and said,“What have you done? Abner has come to you! Why would you send him away? Now he’s gone on his way!

  • 5 “You know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me– how he murdered two commanders of the Israelite armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. During peacetime he struck them down like he would in battle; when he shed their blood as if in battle, he stained the belt on his waist and the sandals on his feet.

  • 31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him,“Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!” Now King David followed behind the funeral pallet.

  • 10 when someone told me that Saul was dead– even though he thought he was bringing good news– I seized him and killed him in Ziklag. That was the good news I gave to him!

  • 29 Then Absalom sent a message to Joab asking him to send him to the king, but Joab was not willing to come to him. So he sent a second message to him, but he still was not willing to come.

  • 20 It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men with you. May genuine loyal love protect you!”

  • 33 (19:1) The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said,“My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”

  • 27 Joab replied,“As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit of their brothers!”

  • 5 The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai:“For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.

  • 37 But Absalom fled and went to King Talmai son of Ammihud of Geshur. And David grieved over his son every day.

  • 22 But David said,“What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? You are like my enemy today! Should anyone be put to death in Israel today? Don’t I know that today I am king over Israel?”