David anticipates positive news from a lone messenger.
In this passage, we read that “The watchman called 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” (v.25). The scene unfolds near Mahanaim, a city east of the Jordan River in the region of Gilead, which provided safety for King David during his conflict with his son Absalom. King David, who governed Israel from about 1010 BC to 970 BC, relied on news-bearers to learn about the outcome of pivotal battles in this area. As the watchman sees a solitary runner, his immediate assumption, reflected by David’s comment that good news must be coming, reveals the custom of a single messenger often signifying a favorable report (2 Samuel 18:24).
The “watchman called and told the king” (v.25) indicates both caution and anticipation. Watching from city walls was a defensive practice in the ancient Near East, giving those inside a chance to ready themselves for visitors’ reports. This also underscores David’s desperation at this stage in his reign: his army was in battle against Absalom’s forces, and a single messenger could bring either glad tidings of victory or sorrowful news of defeat (2 Samuel 18:9). David’s words, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth” (v.25), reflect the ways in which the king clung to hope that the conflict’s end might bring reconciliation and peace, pointing forward to the redemption and ultimate peace exemplified in the New Testament by Jesus (John 14:27).
The final phrase—“And he came nearer and nearer” (v.25)—emphasizes the messenger’s continuous approach, heightening the suspense of the good or bad news he bears. For David, each step could mean a world of difference for his torn kingdom. In seeing how David responded to uncertain tidings, believers might be reminded that trusting in God’s sovereignty is essential when waiting for news. This resonates with passages such as Philippians 4:6, which encourages turning anxieties into petitions before God.
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2 Samuel 18:25 meaning
In this passage, we read that “The watchman called 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” (v.25). The scene unfolds near Mahanaim, a city east of the Jordan River in the region of Gilead, which provided safety for King David during his conflict with his son Absalom. King David, who governed Israel from about 1010 BC to 970 BC, relied on news-bearers to learn about the outcome of pivotal battles in this area. As the watchman sees a solitary runner, his immediate assumption, reflected by David’s comment that good news must be coming, reveals the custom of a single messenger often signifying a favorable report (2 Samuel 18:24).
The “watchman called and told the king” (v.25) indicates both caution and anticipation. Watching from city walls was a defensive practice in the ancient Near East, giving those inside a chance to ready themselves for visitors’ reports. This also underscores David’s desperation at this stage in his reign: his army was in battle against Absalom’s forces, and a single messenger could bring either glad tidings of victory or sorrowful news of defeat (2 Samuel 18:9). David’s words, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth” (v.25), reflect the ways in which the king clung to hope that the conflict’s end might bring reconciliation and peace, pointing forward to the redemption and ultimate peace exemplified in the New Testament by Jesus (John 14:27).
The final phrase—“And he came nearer and nearer” (v.25)—emphasizes the messenger’s continuous approach, heightening the suspense of the good or bad news he bears. For David, each step could mean a world of difference for his torn kingdom. In seeing how David responded to uncertain tidings, believers might be reminded that trusting in God’s sovereignty is essential when waiting for news. This resonates with passages such as Philippians 4:6, which encourages turning anxieties into petitions before God.