Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
2 SAMUEL 18:22KJVWhat does 2 Samuel 18:22 mean?
2 Samuel 18:22 shows Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, asking Joab for permission to run after Cushi to deliver news, even though Joab tells him he has no news to report. Joab questions why Ahimaaz wants to go, since there is nothing for him to share.
In this verse, Ahimaaz is eager to run and bring a message, even though another messenger, Cushi, has already been sent. Joab, the military commander, addresses Ahimaaz as "my son," showing a personal or caring tone, and points out that Ahimaaz has no message ("tidings") ready. The verse highlights Ahimaaz’s persistence and Joab’s concern or confusion about his motivation.
The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 18:22
- "tidings" (בְּשֹׂרָה, bĕsorah): This word means "news" or "good news." Joab’s use of it shows he is focused on the importance of having a real message to deliver, not just running for the sake of it.
- "run" (רוץ, ruts): This verb is used twice, emphasizing Ahimaaz’s eagerness to act quickly and physically run with the news, even if he does not have a message.
- "howsoever" (מָה, mah): This word is often used for "what" or "how," and here it shows Ahimaaz’s insistence—he wants to go regardless of the reason.
Why 2 Samuel 18:22 matters
- The verse highlights the difference between being eager to serve and actually having something meaningful to contribute, as Ahimaaz wants to run even without news.
- Joab’s response draws attention to the importance of purpose and message, not just action, in delivering news—especially in a tense situation after a battle.
- This exchange sets up the following verses, where the outcome of the battle and the fate of Absalom are about to be reported, showing the tension and care around who brings the news to David.