2 Samuel 18:20

2Sa 18:20 And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.

Ver. 20. Because the king’s son is dead.] Not by a fever and a flux, with excoriation of his bowels (as died Henry, son of our Henry II - crowned by his father, but rebelling against him - after floods of tears, and a most sorrowful confession of his sin; which being by some good Ahimaaz afterwards related to his father, who hearing before of his penitency, had sent him his ring in token of forgiveness, the king fell upon the earth weeping bitterly, and mourned very sore); {a} but by a most sad stroke of divine justice in the flagrancy of his rebellion, which he had neither space nor grace to regret, that we read of. This would be heavy news to good David, as Joab well knew; and therefore, out of his love to Ahimaaz, was loath to send him with it.

{a} Speed, 522.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

For Joab bare a good affection to Ahimaaz, and doubted how David would take the report of Absalom’s death.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(20) Thou shalt bear no tidings.—Ahimaaz appears to have been in favour both with David (comp. 2Sa_18:27) and with Joab. Joab, therefore, well knowing how painful to David would be the news of the death of Absalom, refused to let Ahimaaz bear it. The word is used, with rare exceptions, of good tidings.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

20. bear tidings] The word with rare exceptions means to bear good tidings, and this meaning should be retained here and in 2Sa_18:19. Joab would not let Ahimaaz have the thankless task of carrying news which to the king would be no good news.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Joab said unto him, thou shall not bear tidings this day,.... Because Joab knew the tidings of Absalom's death would not be acceptable to the king; and Ahimaaz being a good man, and the son of a priest, for whom Joab had a respect, he would not send the tidings by him, which he was sensible would not recommend him to the king:

but thou shalt bear tidings another day; when any salvation is wrought, or victory obtained, the tidings of which will be welcome:

but this day thou shall bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead; and thou must carry the news concerning his death, which it is not proper thou shouldest, being a priest, nor will it be to thine advantage.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And thou shalt not be a messenger of evil tidings, which will be unwelcome to him, and prejudicial to thee.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

20. The woman said — Like Rahab, she deceived them. Compare Jos_2:4-5.

The brook of water — The wady or stream that ran just below Bahurim.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Inform him another day. A tiding of some other victory.

Because. As a result of the king's son's death therefor this announcement will not be good for you.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.