David Mourns for Absalom

Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said,“Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.”

20 

But Joab replied“You are not the man to take good news today You may do it another day, but you must not [do so] today because the king’s son is dead.”

21 

So Joab said to a Cushite,“Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.

22 

Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab,“No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!”

“My son,” Joab replied,“why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”

23 

“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied.

“Then run!” Joab told him.

So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain[fn] and outran the Cushite.

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Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone 25 So [he] called out and told the king.

“If he is alone the king replied,“he bears good news.”

As the first runner drew near, 26 the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper,“Look! Another man is running alone

“This [one] also brings good news,” said the king.

27 

The watchman said,“The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok

“This is a good man,” said the king.“He comes with good news.”

28 

Then Ahimaaz called out to the king,“All is well!” And he bowed facedown before the king.

He continued,“Blessed [be] the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.”

29 

The king asked,“Is the young man Absalom all right?”

And Ahimaaz replied,“When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”

30 

“Move aside,” said the king,“and stand here.”

So he stepped aside.

31 

Just then the Cushite came and said“May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”

32 

The king asked the Cushite,“Is the young man Absalom all right?”

And the Cushite replied,“May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you to harm you be like that young man.”

33 

The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out,“O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 19