2 Samuel 18:32

And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is].

And the king {H4428} said {H559} unto Cushi {H3569}, Is the young man {H5288} Absalom {H53} safe {H7965}? And Cushi {H3569} answered {H559}, The enemies {H341} of my lord {H113} the king {H4428}, and all that rise {H6965} against thee to do thee hurt {H7451}, be as that young man {H5288} is.

The king asked the Ethiopian, "Is everything all right with young Avshalom?"The Ethiopian answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rebel against you in order to harm you be as that young man is."

The king asked the Cushite, โ€œIs the young man Absalom all right?โ€ And the Cushite replied, โ€œMay what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.โ€

And the king said unto the Cushite, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And the Cushite answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise up against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

Commentary

Context of 2 Samuel 18:32

This verse is a pivotal moment in the tragic narrative of Absalom's rebellion against his father, King David. Following the decisive battle in the wood of Ephraim, where Absalom's forces were routed, David anxiously awaited news of the outcome, particularly concerned for his son's safety. Two messengers were dispatched: Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, and later Cushi. Ahimaaz arrived first but refrained from delivering the news of Absalom's death. When Cushi finally approaches, David's singular focus, despite the military victory, remains on his beloved, albeit rebellious, son.

Key Themes and Messages

  • A Father's Enduring Love: David's immediate and heartfelt question, "Is the young man Absalom safe?", underscores the profound and unconditional love a father has for his child, even one who has grievously betrayed him. This parental affection transcends the political and military triumph.
  • The Euphemism of Bad News: Cushi's reply is a masterful piece of diplomatic communication. He avoids directly stating that Absalom is dead, instead using a euphemism: "The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do [thee] hurt, be as [that] young man [is]." This indirect phrasing conveys the grim reality without uttering the words that would instantly crush the king. It implies that Absalom met the fate of an enemy of the king, confirming his demise.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: The verse implicitly highlights the devastating personal cost of Absalom's rebellion. His pride and ambition led not only to widespread conflict but ultimately to his own death, bringing immense sorrow to his father. This is a stark reminder of the destructive nature of pride and disobedience.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "be as that young man is" (ื™ึดื”ึฐื™ื•ึผ ื›ึผึธืึฒืฉืึถืจ ื”ึทื ึผึทืขึทืจ ื”ึทื”ื•ึผื) is a concise and powerful indirect statement. Cushi doesn't say "Absalom is dead" but rather wishes that all of David's enemies would meet the same fate as Absalom. This polite, yet unambiguous, way of delivering tragic news reveals Cushi's wisdom and sensitivity to David's deep affection for his son.

Practical Application and Reflection

2 Samuel 18:32 offers several enduring lessons for contemporary life:

  • Compassion in Difficult Conversations: Cushi's approach demonstrates the importance of sensitivity and compassion when delivering painful news. There are times when directness must be tempered with empathy for the recipient's emotional state.
  • The Pain of Broken Relationships: The verse powerfully portrays the agony of a parent facing the loss of a child, especially under such tragic circumstances. It reminds us of the profound pain that can result from family strife and rebellion, emphasizing the value of reconciliation and forgiveness where possible. David's subsequent lament in 2 Samuel 18:33 further illustrates this deep sorrow.
  • Consequences of Sin: While David's love is unconditional, Absalom's actions brought about his own destruction. This serves as a timeless reminder that choices have consequences, and rebellion against authority, whether human or divine, often leads to undesirable outcomes.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Judges 5:31

    So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but [let] them that love him [be] as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

  • 1 Samuel 25:26

    Now therefore, my lord, [as] the LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

  • Psalms 68:1

    ยถ To the chief Musician, A Psalm [or] Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

  • Psalms 68:2

    As smoke is driven away, [so] drive [them] away: as wax melteth before the fire, [so] let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

  • 2 Samuel 18:29

    And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and [me] thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what [it was].

  • Daniel 4:19

    ยถ Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
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