The Meaning of 2 Samuel 18:24 Explained

2 Samuel 18:24

KJV: 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.

YLT: And 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.

Darby: And 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.

ASV: Now 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Samuel 18:24 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 18:16-30 - Tidings That Failed To Bring Joy
Ahimaaz was far-famed for his swift running. He had already served the royal cause, and his family was intimate with the king, 2 Samuel 15:36; 2 Samuel 17:17. Joab was therefore unwilling to entrust the youth with tidings which must give the king bitter sorrow, and perhaps cause him to associate them ever after with the bearer. Perhaps Joab also feared that the part which he himself had taken in Absalom's death would be exposed by Ahimaaz. The tidings were therefore entrusted to an Ethiopian slave. He ran along the straight road to Mahanaim, but the young priest took the way of the plain and outran him.
Tidings are constantly pouring in upon us, some by the stranger, some by the friend. But if we trust in the Lord we shall not be afraid of them, Psalms 112:7. Only let our heart be fixed. For us also there shall arise light in the darkness, our heart shall be established, and we shall not be moved. When next you break the seal of the dreaded letter, lift your heart to God. He will bring good out of evil. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 18

1  David viewing the armies in their march gives them charge of Absalom
6  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

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 18:24 mean?

Now David was sitting between two the gates and went up the watchman to the roof the over gate the wall and lifted - his eyes and looked and there was a man running alone
וְדָוִ֥ד יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בֵּין־ שְׁנֵ֣י הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ הַצֹּפֶ֜ה אֶל־ גַּ֤ג הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙ הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂ֤א אֶת־ עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה־ אִ֖ישׁ רָ֥ץ לְבַדּֽוֹ

וְדָוִ֥ד  Now  David 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
יוֹשֵׁ֖ב  was  sitting 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בֵּין־  between 
Parse: Preposition
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.
שְׁנֵ֣י  two 
Parse: Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
הַשְּׁעָרִ֑ים  the  gates 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ  and  went  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
הַצֹּפֶ֜ה  the  watchman 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: צָפָה  
Sense: to look out or about, spy, keep watch, observe, watch.
גַּ֤ג  the  roof 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גָּג  
Sense: roof, top, housetop.
הַשַּׁ֙עַר֙  the  over  gate 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
הַ֣חוֹמָ֔ה  the  wall 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֹומָה  
Sense: wall.
וַיִּשָּׂ֤א  and  lifted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עֵינָיו֙  his  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וַיַּ֔רְא  and  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְהִנֵּה־  and  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
אִ֖ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
רָ֥ץ  running 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רוּץ 
Sense: to run.
לְבַדּֽוֹ  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.