Daily Tanach Thursday Shmuel 2 Chapter 18: Messengers inform Dovid of his son’s death

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  1. Messengers are sent to inform Dovid of the news of the victory of war and of his son’s death:
  • Achimatz is stopped by Yoav from informing Dovid: Achimatz, the son of Tzadok, requested to hurry and travel towards the king and inform him of the good news that G-d has judged him favorably from his enemies. However, Yoav prevented him from doing so saying that he should not go today to inform Dovid being that his son has died, and rather he should inform him on another day [of a different good tiding]. [Yoav knew that whoever tells the king bad news ends up getting punished, and since he had mercy on Achimatz he told him he should not give this message to Dovid at all which entailed informing him of his son’s death, not today and not on any day, and rather he should wait for good news to come a different time and he will then be the messenger to tell him.[1]]
  • Yoav sends a black individual to inform the king: Yoav said to the Kushy, “Go tell the king what you have seen [of the victory of the battle and the death of his son].” So the Kushy prostrated himself to Yoav and he hurriedly went to tell Dovid.
  • Achimatz is given permission to run and also inform Dovid: When Achimatz, the son of Tzadok, saw that the Kushy was sent to inform Dovid he implored upon Yoav to also send him to run behind the Kushy. Yoav at first denied his request and told him, “Why should you run my son? For you this is not news that you should be bringing [as you will not be rewarded for doing so and it will be to your detriment to inform Dovid that his son has died[2]].” However, Achimatz insisted that he be allowed to go and stated that he does not mind if he does not get rewarded for what he will be informing Dovid and he accepts upon himself whatever will happen. So, in the end Yoav acquiesced to allow him to run to tell Dovid.
  • The race to be the first to inform Dovid of the news: Achimatz ran through a path which was a shortcut and he passed the Kushy.

 

2.      Dovid is informed of the news by the two messengers:

  • The watch guard sees two people coming towards him: Dovid was sitting between the two gates[3] and the watch guard ascended to the roof of the gate towards the wall, and concentrated his eyes on far and saw a man running alone towards them. The watch guard immediately informed the king of the incoming individual. The king told him that if he is coming by himself, it is a sign that he has some news to inform them. As the individual was coming closer, the watch guard saw another individual running after him, and so the guard announced to the gatekeeper that another man is running alone. The king replied that he too is coming to give us news. The watch guard then said that from the running of the first man it seems to be that he is Achimatz the son of Tzadok. The king replied that indeed he is a good man and he has come to give us good news.
  • Achimatz delivers the message to the king that his army has been victorious: Achimatz called out and said to the king, “peace unto you,” and he then prostrated himself before the King placing his face to the ground. He then told him, “Blessed be Hashem your G-d who has handed into your hands [and annihilated the threat of] those who rose against my master the king.” The king then asked him, “Is the lad Avshalom found in peace?” Achimatz answered him, “I had seen a great commotion of people going on and Yoav then immediately sent the servant of the king [i.e. the Kushi] as well as myself to go towards you and hence I do not know what happened.” The king then told him to step aside [and wait to see what the other messenger has to say] and so Achimatz stood by the side.
  • The Kushi informs the king of his son’s death: The Kushi then arrived and informed the king, “Let my master the king be informed that today G-d has judged you favorably and saved you from all those who come up against you.” The king then proceeded to ask the Kushi as to the state of peace of his son Avshalom. The Kushi replied, “as happened to all of my master’s, the king’s, enemies who came up against him to do evil, so too happened to the lad [i.e. he was killed in battle].”

[1] See Rashi and all Mefarshim on 18:20

[2] See Ralbag and other Mefarshim on 18:22

[3] The city was surrounded by two walls and two gates and Dovid was sitting between the two gates where there was an area set up to sit. [Radak and Metzudos David 18:24]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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