2 Samuel 18 · Verse 24

2 Samuel 18:24

And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
2 Samuel 18:24, King James Version

2 Samuel 18:24 in other translations

BSBNow David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.
WEBNow David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
ASVNow David was sitting between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone.
YLTAnd David is sitting between the two gates, and the watchman goeth unto the roof of the gate, unto the wall, and lifteth up his eyes, and looketh, and lo, a man running by himself.
DARBYAnd David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, on to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.
BBENow David was seated between the two town doors; and the watchman went up to the roof of the doorways, on the wall, and, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running by himself.
WebsterAnd David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate to the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

What does 2 Samuel 18:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Samuel 18:24-32
24-32. David sat between the two gates--that is, in the tower-house on the wall that overhung the gate of Mahanaim. Near it was a watchtower, on which a sentinel was posted, as in times of war, to notify every occurrence. The delicacy of Ahimaaz' communication was made up by the unmistakable plainness of Cushi's. The death of Absalom was a heavy trial, and it is impossible not to sympathize with the outburst of feeling by which David showed that all thoughts of the victory he had won as a king were completely sunk in the painful loss he had sustained as a father. The extraordinary ardor and strength of his affection for this worthless son break out in the redundancy and vehemence of his mournful ejaculations.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 David sat between the two gates - He was probably in the seat of justice. Before the gate of the city it is supposed there was an enclosure, which had its gate also; David sat in the space between these two doors. Over the larger gate there appears to have been a turret, on which a sentinel or watchman stood continually, and gave information of what he saw in the country.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Samuel 18:19-33

By directing David to give God thanks for his victory, Ahimaaz prepared him for the news of his son's death. The more our hearts are fixed and enlarged, in thanksgiving to God for our mercies, the better disposed we shall be to bear with patience the afflictions mixed with them. Some think David's wish arose from concern about Absalom's everlasting state; but he rather seems to have spoken without due thought. He is…

Read the full comment on 2 Samuel 18:19-33 →

2 Samuel 18:24 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְדָוִ֥דve.da.Vidand DavidH1732
יוֹשֵׁ֖בyo.Shev[was] sittingH3427
בֵּין\־bein-betweenH996
שְׁנֵ֣יshe.Nei[the] twoH8147
הַשְּׁעָרִ֑יםha.she.'a.Rimthe gatesH8179
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְvai.Ye.lekhand he wentH1980
הַצֹּפֶ֜הha.tzo.Pehthe watchmanH6822
אֶל\־'el-toH413
גַּ֤גgag[the] roof ofH1406
הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ha.Sha.'arthe gateH8179
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַ֣חוֹמָ֔הha.cho.Mahthe wallH2346
וַיִּשָּׂ֤אvai.yi.Sa'and he lifted upH5375
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
עֵינָיו֙'ei.Naveyes hisH5869
וַיַּ֔רְאvai.Yar'and he sawH7200
וְהִנֵּה\־ve.hi.neh-and there!H2009
אִ֖ישׁ'isha manH376
רָ֥ץratz[was] runningH7323
לְבַדּֽוֹ\׃le.va.Doto only himH905

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Samuel 18:24

  • 2 Samuel 19:8

    Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.

  • 1 Samuel 4:13

    And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

  • 2 Samuel 13:34

    But Absalom fled. And the young man that kept the watch lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came much people by the way of the hill side behind him.

  • Isaiah 21:6-9

    For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth. And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed: And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights: And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

  • Ezekiel 33:2-7

    Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. …

  • 2 Samuel 18:4

    And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.

  • Isaiah 21:11-12

    The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

  • 2 Kings 9:17-20

    And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace? So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again. Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
between.
4; 1Sa 4:13
the watchman.
2Ki 9:17-20; Isa 21:6-9,11,12; Eze 33:2-7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Samuel 18:23

    But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

  • 2 Samuel 18:24

    And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

  • 2 Samuel 18:25

    And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

Read all of 2 Samuel 18

2 Samuel 18:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Estaba David á la sazón sentado entre las dos puertas; y el atalaya había ido al terrado de sobre la puerta en el muro, y alzando sus ojos, miró, y vió á uno que corría solo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David était assis entre les deux portes; et la sentinelle alla sur le toit de la porte, sur la muraille, et elle leva les yeux, et regarda, et voici un homme qui courait seul.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David saß zwischen den beiden Toren; und der Wächter ging auf das Dach des Tores, auf die Mauer, und er erhob seine Augen und sah, und siehe, ein Mann, der allein lief.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		David autem sedebat inter duas portas: speculator vero, qui erat in fastigio portæ super murum, elevans oculos, vidit hominem currentem solum.