2 Samuel 18:19-33

International Children’s Bible

¹⁹ Ahimaaz son of Zadok spoke to Joab. He said, “Let me run and take the news to King David. I’ll tell him the Lord has destroyed the enemy for him.”

²⁰ Joab answered Ahimaaz, “No, you are not the one to take the news today. You may do it another time. But do not take it today, because the king’s son is dead.”

²¹ Then Joab said to a man from Cush, “Go. Tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and ran to tell David.

²² But Ahimaaz son of Zadok begged Joab again. He said, “No matter what happens, please let me go, along with the Cushite!”

Joab said, “Son, why do you want to carry the news? You won’t get any reward for the news you bring!”

²³ Ahimaaz answered, “No matter what happens, I will run.”

So Joab said to Ahimaaz, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the Jordan Valley and passed the Cushite.

²⁴ Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman went up to the roof by the gate walls. As he looked up, he saw a man running alone. ²⁵ He shouted to tell King David.

The king said, “If he is alone, he is bringing good news!”

The man came nearer and nearer to the city. ²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!”

The king said, “He is also bringing good news!”

²⁷ The watchman said, “I think the first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”

The king said, “Ahimaaz is a good man. He must be bringing good news!”

²⁸ Then Ahimaaz called a greeting to the king. He bowed facedown on the ground to the king. He said, “Praise the Lord your God! The Lord has defeated the men who were against you, my king.”

²⁹ The king asked, “Is young Absalom all right?”

Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent me, I saw some great excitement. But I don’t know what it was.”

³⁰ Then the king said, “Step over here and wait.” So Ahimaaz stepped aside and stood there.

³¹ Then the Cushite arrived. He said, “Master and king, hear the good news! Today the Lord has punished the people who were against you!”

³² The king asked the Cushite, “Is young Absalom all right?”

The Cushite answered, “May your enemies be like that young man. May all who come to hurt you be like that young man!”

³³ Then the king knew Absalom was dead. He was very upset. He went to the room over the city gate and cried. As he went, he cried out, “My son Absalom, my son Absalom! I wish I had died for you. Absalom, my son, my son!”