2 Samuel 18:19-33

Evangelical Heritage Version

¹⁹ Ahima’az son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry the good news to the king that the Lord has delivered him from the power of his enemies.”

²⁰ But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to carry the news today. You may carry the news some other day, but today you should not carry the news, because the king’s son is dead.”

²¹ Joab then told a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you saw.”

The Cushite bowed down to Joab and then set out running.

²² But Ahima’az son of Zadok said to Joab again, “No matter what, I really want to run behind the Cushite.”

Joab said, “Why do you want to do this? My son, there is no good news that will bring you any gain for running.” ²³ But Ahima’az said, “No matter what, let me run.” So Joab said to him “All right, run then.” Ahima’az ran on the road that followed the plain, and he passed the Cushite.

²⁴ David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman went up onto the roof of the gatehouse next to the wall. While he was standing watch, he saw a man running all by himself. ²⁵ The watchman called out and told the king. The king said, “If he is alone, he is bringing good news.” The man kept coming and got closer.

²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called down to the gatekeeper, “Look! There is another man running all by himself!”

The king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” ²⁷ The watchman said, “The way the first man is running looks like the way Ahima’az son of Zadok runs.” The king said, “He is a good man. He is coming with good news.”

²⁸ Ahima’az called out to the king, “Peace.” Then he bowed down to the king with his face to the ground and said, “Blessed is the Lord your God, who delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”

²⁹ The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

Ahima’az said, “I saw a great uproar at the time when Joab sent the other servant of the king and me, your servant. I do not know what it was about.”

³⁰ The king said, “Step aside. Stay here.” So he stepped aside and just stood there.

³¹ The Cushite arrived and said, “There is good news for my lord the king, because the Lord has delivered you this day from the power of all who rose up against you.”

³² The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”

The Cushite said, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you with evil intentions be like that young man.”

³³ The king was shocked. He went up to the room over the gatehouse. As he was going, he wept and said, “My son Absalom, my son, my son! O Absalom, I wish I had died instead of you. O Absalom, my son, my son.”