Apace
Definition and Usage
The word "apace" is an old English adverb meaning "at a rapid pace" or "swiftly." Derived from the phrase "at a pace," it appears in the King James Version to convey urgency and speed. While the word has largely fallen out of modern usage, it was a natural choice for the KJV translators working in early seventeenth-century English. Modern translations replace it with words like "quickly," "fast," or "rapidly."
The Watchman's Report in 2 Samuel 18:25
The most dramatic use of "apace" occurs in 2 Samuel 18:25, during the tense moments following the battle between David's forces and the army of his rebellious son Absalom. A watchman stationed on the city wall of Mahanaim spots a lone runner approaching. He reports to King David, who is anxiously awaiting news of the battle's outcome. When the watchman observes that the runner "cometh apace," he is noting the speed and urgency of the messenger's approach. The context is charged with emotion, as David is torn between hope for military victory and fear for his son's life (2 Samuel 18:24-27).
The Flight from Egypt in Jeremiah 46:5
In Jeremiah 46:5, the prophet describes Egypt's catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BC. The KJV reads: "Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back." Here "apace" captures the panicked speed of Egypt's retreating warriors as they flee from the Babylonian army. The emphasis on rapid, terrified flight contrasts sharply with Egypt's earlier confidence and military pride.
The Hebrew Idiom
The Hebrew behind "apace" in these passages uses a technique of verbal intensification through repetition or doubling. Rather than a single word meaning "quickly," the Hebrew text repeats a concept or uses an emphatic construction to convey intensity. The KJV translators captured this emphasis with "apace," which carries a sense of determined, sustained speed rather than merely ordinary quickness.
Biblical Themes of Speed and Urgency
The concept of moving quickly appears throughout Scripture in contexts of both judgment and deliverance. God's judgment comes swiftly upon the wicked (Isaiah 5:26; Zephaniah 1:14). Messengers run with urgent news (2 Samuel 18:19-23). The righteous flee from danger (Genesis 19:17). These moments of speed and urgency remind readers that the events of biblical history were not abstract theological concepts but lived experiences of real people facing critical moments.
Biblical Context
Apace appears in 2 Samuel 18:25, where a messenger approaches David's camp rapidly with news of Absalom's defeat, and in Jeremiah 46:5, where Egyptian soldiers flee in panic from the Battle of Carchemish. Both passages use the word in contexts of intense drama and urgency.
Theological Significance
The contexts in which apace appears highlight God's sovereign involvement in human affairs. The messenger's rapid approach to David brings news of God's judgment on Absalom's rebellion, while Egypt's panicked flight fulfills God's prophetic word against proud nations. Speed and urgency in these passages underscore the reality that God's purposes unfold decisively.
Historical Background
The Battle of Carchemish (605 BC) was one of the most significant battles in ancient Near Eastern history, ending Egyptian influence in the Levant and establishing Babylonian dominance. Archaeological evidence from the site confirms the scale of the conflict. The scene in 2 Samuel 18 reflects ancient military communication practices where runners carried battlefield reports to waiting commanders.