Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then the Cushite arrived and said, “My lord the king, hear the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today by delivering you from the hand of all who rose up against you.” New Living Translation Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the LORD has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.” English Standard Version And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the LORD has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” Berean Standard Bible Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!” Berean Literal Bible And just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king, for YHWH has avenged you this day against the hand of all those who rose up against you.” King James Bible And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. New King James Version Just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king! For the LORD has avenged you this day of all those who rose against you.” New American Standard Bible Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” NASB 1995 Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” NASB 1977 And behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” Legacy Standard Bible Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for Yahweh has judged to save you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.” Amplified Bible Behold, the Cushite (Ethiopian) arrived, and said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for the LORD has vindicated you today by rescuing you from the hand (power) of all those who stood against you.” Berean Annotated Bible Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD {YHWH} has avenged you of all who rose up against you! Christian Standard Bible Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: The LORD has vindicated you today by freeing you from all who rise against you! ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: today the LORD has delivered you from all those rising up against you!” American Standard Version And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Tidings for my lord the king; for Jehovah hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. Contemporary English Version The Ethiopian came and said, "Your Majesty, today I have good news! The LORD has rescued you from all your enemies!" English Revised Version And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, Tidings for my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then the Sudanese messenger came. "Good news for Your Majesty!" he said. "Today the LORD has freed you from all who turned against you." Good News Translation Then the Ethiopian slave arrived and said to the king, "I have good news for Your Majesty! Today the LORD has given you victory over all who rebelled against you!" International Standard Version Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He reported, "Good news, your majesty the king! The LORD has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!" NET Bible Then the Cushite arrived and said, "May my lord the king now receive the good news! The LORD has vindicated you today and delivered you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you!" New Heart English Bible Then look, the Cushite arrived, and he said, "Good news for my lord the king, for the LORD has delivered you today from all those who rose up against you." Webster's Bible Translation And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleJust then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!” World English Bible Behold, the Cushite came. The Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today of all those who rose up against you.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd behold, the Cushite has come, and the Cushite says, “Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for today YHWH has delivered you out of the hand of all those rising up against you.” Berean Literal Bible And just then the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “There is good news, my lord the king, for YHWH has avenged you this day against the hand of all those who rose up against you.” Young's Literal Translation And lo, the Cushite hath come, and the Cushite saith, 'Let tidings be proclaimed, my lord, O king; for Jehovah hath delivered thee to-day out of the hand of all those rising up against thee.' Smith's Literal Translation And behold, Cushi came; and Cushi will say, Good news will be announced, my lord the king, for Jehovah judged thee this day from the hand of all rising up against thee. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd when he bad passed, and stood still, Chusai appeared: and coming up he said: I bring good tidings, my lord, the king, for the Lord hath judged for thee this day from the hand of all that have risen up against thee. Catholic Public Domain Version Hushai appeared. And approaching, he said: “I bear good news, my lord the king. For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.” New American Bible When the Cushite came in, he said, “Let my lord the king receive the good news that this day the LORD has freed you from the power of all who rose up against you.” New Revised Standard Version Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the LORD has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd, behold, Cushi came; and he said, Tidings, my lord the king! for the LORD has avenged you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And behold, Kushi came and he said: “Good news my Lord the King, for LORD JEHOVAH has vindicated him today from the hand of everyone who has stood against him!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And, behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said: 'Tidings for my lord the king; for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And, behold, Chusi came up, and said to the king, Let my lord the king hear glad tidings, for the Lord has avenged thee this day upon all them that rose up against thee. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context David Mourns for Absalom…30“Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.” So he stepped aside. 31Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!” 32The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May 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.”… Cross References Just then the Cushite came and said, 2 Samuel 15:13 Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” 2 Samuel 1:2-4 On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage. / “Where have you come from?” David asked. “I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied. / “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 1 Samuel 4:12-17 That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line all the way to Shiloh, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. / When he arrived, there was Eli, sitting on his chair beside the road and watching, because his heart trembled for the ark of God. When the man entered the city to give a report, the whole city cried out. / Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” So the man hurried over and reported to Eli. … “May my lord the king hear the good news: 2 Kings 7:9 Finally, they said to one another, “We are not doing what is right. Today is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until morning light, our sin will overtake us. Now, therefore, let us go and tell the king’s household.” Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Nahum 1:15 Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off. Today the LORD has avenged you 2 Samuel 22:48-49 the God who avenges me and brings down nations beneath me, / who frees me from my enemies. You exalt me above my foes; You rescue me from violent men. Psalm 18:47-48 the God who avenges me and subdues nations beneath me, / who delivers me from my enemies. You exalt me above my foes; You rescue me from violent men. 1 Samuel 25:39 On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. of all who rose up against you!” 2 Samuel 15:12 While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing. Psalm 3:1-2 A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me! / Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah Psalm 2:1-2 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: 2 Samuel 1:4 “What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” “The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 2 Samuel 1:10 So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” 2 Samuel 4:10 when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news! 1 Kings 1:42 As he was speaking, suddenly Jonathan the son of Abiathar the priest arrived. “Come in,” said Adonijah, “for you are a man of valor. You must be bringing good news.” Treasury of Scripture And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD has avenged you this day of all them that rose up against you. Tidings [heb] Tidings is brought 2 Samuel 18:19,28 Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies… 2 Samuel 22:48,49 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, … Deuteronomy 32:35,36 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste… Jump to Previous Arms Arrived Avenged Cause Cushi Cushite Cushy Delivered Freed Good Hand News Power Proclaimed Receive Right Rose TidingsJump to Next Arms Arrived Avenged Cause Cushi Cushite Cushy Delivered Freed Good Hand News Power Proclaimed Receive Right Rose Tidings2 Samuel 18 1. David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom6. The Israelites are sorely smitten in the wood of ephraim 9. Absalom, hanging in an oak is slain by Joab, and cast into a pit 18. Absalom's place 19. Ahimaaz and Cushi bring tidings to David 33. David mourns for Absalom Just then the Cushite came and said The Cushite, likely a messenger from the region of Cush (modern-day Sudan or Ethiopia), represents a foreigner in the service of King David. His role as a messenger highlights the diverse makeup of David's army and administration, reflecting the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his descendants (Genesis 12:3). The arrival of the Cushite at this moment underscores the urgency and importance of the message he carries. “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!” Persons / Places / Events 1. CushiteA messenger from Cush, an ancient region in Africa, often associated with Ethiopia. In this context, he is the bearer of news to King David. 2. King David The second king of Israel, a central figure in the Old Testament, known for his leadership, psalms, and complex personal life. 3. The LORD Refers to Yahweh, the God of Israel, who is credited with delivering David from his enemies. 4. Enemies of David Those who opposed David, specifically in this context, Absalom and his followers who rebelled against David's kingship. 5. The Battle The conflict between David's forces and those of his son Absalom, which culminated in Absalom's defeat and death. Teaching Points Divine DeliveranceRecognize that God is the ultimate deliverer from our adversaries, both physical and spiritual. Faithful Messengers Like the Cushite, we are called to be bearers of good news, sharing God's deliverance with others. Trust in God's Timing David's deliverance came in God's perfect timing, reminding us to trust in His plans and timing for our lives. The Cost of Rebellion Absalom's rebellion serves as a warning against rising up against God's anointed and the consequences of such actions. Gratitude for Victory Cultivate a heart of gratitude for the victories God grants us, acknowledging His hand in our successes. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 2 Samuel 18:31?2. How does 2 Samuel 18:31 demonstrate God's justice in David's life? 3. What can we learn about God's sovereignty from 2 Samuel 18:31? 4. How does this verse connect to Romans 8:28 about God's plans? 5. How should believers respond to news of God's will, as David did? 6. What does David's reaction teach us about trusting God's outcomes? 7. How does 2 Samuel 18:31 reflect God's justice in David's life? 8. What is the significance of Ahimaaz's role in 2 Samuel 18:31? 9. How does 2 Samuel 18:31 illustrate the consequences of rebellion? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 18? 11. When David defeated the King of Zobah, how many horsemen did he capture? One thousand and seven hundred (2 Samuel 8:4) Seven thousand (I Chronicles 18:4) 12. How did King Saul die? (1 Samuel 31:4-6 vs. 2 Samuel 1:8-10) 13. In 2 Samuel 12:7-14, why would a just God inflict punishment on an innocent child for David's sin, seemingly contradicting Ezekiel 18:20? 14. In 2 Samuel 2:4, why is David anointed again when he was already anointed in 1 Samuel 16:13? What Does 2 Samuel 18:31 Mean Just then- The timing is striking; events unfold at the precise moment God intends. - Scripture often highlights these “divine appointments,” such as in 2 Kings 8:5 when Gehazi is recounting miracles “just as” the Shunammite arrives, or in Esther 6:1–10 where the king’s sleepless night coincides with Mordecai’s deliverance. - Psalm 37:7 counsels, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him,” reminding us that God’s timetable is never late. the Cushite came - A foreign messenger underscores that God can use anyone, anywhere, to accomplish His purposes, much like the Cushite Ebed-Melech who rescued Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:7–13). - This anonymous servant stands in contrast to Joab or other high-ranking Israelites, echoing 1 Corinthians 1:27 that “God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” - Isaiah 56:6–7 shows Gentiles brought near to serve the Lord, previewing the inclusion later fulfilled in Acts 8:27–39 with the Ethiopian eunuch. and said - Words matter; messengers carry life-changing news (Proverbs 25:25). - Romans 10:14-15 reminds us, “How can they hear without someone to preach? … ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’ ”. - The Cushite’s speech also models respectful address to authority (1 Peter 2:17). May my lord the king hear the good news - “Good news” signals victory, safety, and restored order, foreshadowing the gospel itself. - Isaiah 52:7 celebrates, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news … who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ ”. - For David, the message answers his anguish over rebellion; for believers, it hints at the ultimate proclamation that Christ reigns (Revelation 11:15). Today the LORD has avenged you - The focus is not David’s military skill but the Lord’s vindication. - Deuteronomy 32:35 affirms, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” while Romans 12:19 applies the same principle to New-Covenant believers. - The “today” stresses immediacy: God’s justice arrives in real history, not merely in theory (Psalm 9:16). of all who rose up against you! - David’s enemies—including his own son Absalom—had challenged God’s ordained king, echoing Psalm 2:2, “The kings of the earth take their stand … against the LORD and against His Anointed.” - Psalm 3:1-3 was penned in this very context, and it testifies, “O LORD, how many are my foes … But You, O LORD, are a shield around me”. - The phrase reassures that no opposition can finally overturn God’s covenant promises (2 Samuel 7:12-16; John 10:28-29). summary This single verse captures a holy convergence of timing, sovereignty, and proclamation. At the very moment David awaits word, God appoints an unlikely Cushite to announce that the Lord Himself has acted, vindicating His anointed and crushing rebellion. The scene previews the broader biblical storyline: God raises up messengers to declare the good news that He reigns, avenges righteousness, and secures victory over every enemy. Verse 31. - Tidings, etc. The literal meaning is more fit for the mouth of a slave. "Let my lord the king learn the tidings that Jehovah hath judged (and delivered) thee this day from the hand," etc., that is, God, sitting as Judge at the assize of battle; hath given sentence for thee, and pronounced thy acquittal. The same phrase occurs in ver. 19.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Just thenוְהִנֵּ֥ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! the Cushite הַכּוּשִׁ֖י (hak·kū·šî) Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3569: Cushite -- descendant of Cush came בָּ֑א (bā) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go and said, וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “May my lord אֲדֹנִ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller the king הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4428: A king hear the good news: יִתְבַּשֵּׂר֙ (yiṯ·baś·śêr) Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1319: To be fresh, full, cheerful), to announce Today הַיּ֔וֹם (hay·yō·wm) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3117: A day the LORD יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has avenged you שְׁפָטְךָ֤ (šə·p̄ā·ṭə·ḵā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate of מִיַּ֖ד (mî·yaḏ) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3027: A hand all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every who rose up הַקָּמִ֥ים (haq·qā·mîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand against you!” עָלֶֽיךָ׃ (‘ā·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against Links 2 Samuel 18:31 NIV2 Samuel 18:31 NLT 2 Samuel 18:31 ESV 2 Samuel 18:31 NASB 2 Samuel 18:31 KJV 2 Samuel 18:31 BibleApps.com 2 Samuel 18:31 Biblia Paralela 2 Samuel 18:31 Chinese Bible 2 Samuel 18:31 French Bible 2 Samuel 18:31 Catholic Bible OT History: 2 Samuel 18:31 Behold the Cushite came (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) |
    |