Why did Joab say, "You are not the man to carry news"? Setting the Scene • 2 Samuel 18 tells of Absalom’s defeat and death. • Ahimaaz, son of Zadok the priest, eagerly asks Joab for permission to run to David with the news (18:19). • Joab replies, “You are not the man to carry news today, but you may do so another time, for today the king’s son is dead” (18:20). • Joab then sends a Cushite servant instead (18:21). Joab’s Assessment • Ahimaaz was known for bringing encouraging reports (cf. 2 Samuel 17:17–21). • The message this day was tragically different: the king’s beloved son had been killed. • Joab discerned that a “good–news” messenger should not be asked to herald heartbreaking tidings. Lessons from Previous Messengers • David had executed the Amalekite who claimed to have slain Saul after bringing that report (2 Samuel 1:2–16). • He likewise put to death the men who boasted of killing Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 4:9-12). • Joab knew David might again respond with intense grief and possible punishment of the bearer. Protecting the Faithful Messenger • Ahimaaz was the son of a priest and a loyal friend of David; Joab wished to spare him potential wrath. • By sending a foreign Cushite, Joab insulated both himself and Ahimaaz from the king’s immediate reaction. • If David lashed out, the loss of an unnamed servant would be deemed less costly to Israel’s leadership. A Heart-Aware Assignment • Joab’s words hint at pastoral sensitivity: “another time” Ahimaaz could run, but not on a day of sorrow. • Proverbs 25:20—“Like one who… sings songs to a heavy heart”—illustrates the mismatch Joab sought to avoid. The Larger Biblical Pattern • Scripture often pairs specific messengers with specific messages (e.g., Nathan confronting David, 2 Samuel 12:1-7). • Messenger selection was strategic, reflecting both the nature of the news and the disposition of the hearer. Takeaway Truths • Wisdom chooses the right person for the right task, even among the godly. • The same mouth that gladly proclaims victory may not be suited to announce tragedy. • God values discernment in communication; timing and messenger matter as much as the message itself (Ecclesiastes 3:7; Proverbs 15:23). |
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