2 Samuel 18:19–33

David Is Grief-stricken

¹⁹Then ^aAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news ^bthat the Lord has ¹freed him from the hand of his enemies.”

²⁰But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry news this day, but you shall carry news another day; however, you shall carry no news today because the king’s son is dead.”

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 up 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.

²⁵The 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.”

²⁷The watchman said, “I ¹think 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.”

²⁸Ahimaaz called and said to the king, “¹All is well.” And ^ahe prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “^bBlessed is the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who lifted their hands against my lord the king.”

²⁹The king said, “^aIs it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “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 ^athe Lord has ¹freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”

³²Then the king said to the Cushite, “^aIs it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “^bLet the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be as that young man!”

³³¹The king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And thus he said as he walked, “^aO my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! ^bWould I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”