¹⁷ Zadok^(A) son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar^(B) were priests; Seraiah was secretary;^(C)

²⁴ Zadok^(A) was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark^(B) of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar^(C) offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

²⁵ Then the king said to Zadok, “Take the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the Lord’s eyes, he will bring me back and let me see it and his dwelling place^(D) again. ²⁶ But if he says, ‘I am not pleased with you,’ then I am ready; let him do to me whatever seems good to him.^(E)”

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Do you understand?^(F) Go back to the city with my blessing. Take your son Ahimaaz with you, and also Abiathar’s son Jonathan.^(G) You and Abiathar return with your two sons. ²⁸ I will wait at the fords^(H) in the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar took the ark of God back to Jerusalem and stayed there.

³⁵ Won’t the priests Zadok and Abiathar be there with you? Tell them anything you hear in the king’s palace.^(A)

³⁶ Their two sons, Ahimaaz^(A) son of Zadok and Jonathan^(B) son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with anything you hear.”

David Mourns

¹⁹ Now Ahimaaz^(A) son of Zadok said, “Let me run and take the news to the king that the Lord has vindicated him by delivering him from the hand of his enemies.^(B)”

²² Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.”

But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.”

²⁷ The watchman said, “It seems to me that the first one runs like^(A) Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”

“He’s a good man,” the king said. “He comes with good news.”

¹¹ King David sent this message to Zadok^(A) and Abiathar, the priests: “Ask the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to bring the king back to his palace, since what is being said throughout Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

²⁵ Sheva was secretary; Zadok^(A) and Abiathar were priests;