And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
The king asked Cushi, 'Is the young man Absalom safe?' Cushi replied, 'May all your enemies, my lord the king, and everyone who rises up to harm you end up like that young man.'
The messenger is carefully telling King David that his rebellious son Absalom is dead, using diplomatic language to break the devastating news.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, King David is anxiously awaiting news from the battlefield where his son Absalom had rebelled against him and attempted to seize the throne, leading to a civil war in Israel. Absalom was killed in the conflict despite David's explicit orders to spare him, and the messenger Cushi is delivering the report to David. When David inquires about Absalom's safety, Cushi's response subtly confirms his death while expressing a wish for the same fate on David's enemies.
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