But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
2 SAMUEL 18:23KJVWhat does 2 Samuel 18:23 mean?
2 Samuel 18:23 describes how Ahimaaz insisted on running to deliver news, was given permission, and then ran by a faster route across the plain, overtaking the messenger Cushi. The verse shows Ahimaaz’s eagerness and determination to reach David first with the news from the battlefield.
In this scene, Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok the priest, is speaking to Joab, David’s military commander. Ahimaaz wants to bring news to King David about the outcome of the battle with Absalom. Despite Joab’s earlier hesitation, Ahimaaz is finally allowed to go and chooses a route “by the way of the plain,” which allows him to outrun Cushi, the other messenger.
The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 18:23
- The word for “run” (רָץ, rats, H7323) appears several times here, emphasizing Ahimaaz’s urgency and energy in delivering the message.
- “Way” (דֶּרֶךְ, derek, H1870) and “plain” (כִּכָּר, kikkar, H3603) together highlight that Ahimaaz took a specific, likely easier or faster, route—across open land rather than hills or rough terrain.
- “Overran” (עָבַר, avar, H5674) means to pass by or overtake, making it clear that Ahimaaz not only caught up to but surpassed Cushi on the way.
Why 2 Samuel 18:23 matters
- The verse clarifies that Ahimaaz’s determination and choice of route allowed him to arrive before Cushi, showing both his zeal and resourcefulness.
- This detail sets up the following scene, where Ahimaaz is the first to bring news to David, which affects how the king receives the report about Absalom.
- The emphasis on the route and the act of overtaking highlights the importance of the messenger and the message in the narrative, not just the content of the news itself.