2 Samuel 18:19-31
Read 2 Samuel 18 in full →David Weeps Over Absalom
19Then aAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and proclaim the good news to the king bthat Yahweh has judged to save him from the hand of his enemies.” 20But Joab said to him, “You are not the man for the good news this day, but you shall proclaim the good news another day; however, you shall not proclaim the good news today because the king’s son has died.” 21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22Now Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since ayou will have no reward for going?” 23“But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.
24Now aDavid was sitting between the two gates; and bthe watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running by himself. 25And the watchman called and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27And the watchman said, “I see that the running of the first one ais like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “bThis is a good man and comes with good news.”
28And Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “Peace!” And ahe prostrated himself before the king with his 1face to the ground. And he said, “bBlessed is Yahweh your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.” 29Then the king said, “aIs there peace with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but bI did not know what it was.” 30Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
31Behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for aYahweh has judged to save you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”