David Learns of Absalom’s Death

¹⁹ Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and give the king the good news that the Lord has vindicated him before his enemies.”^{[a] 20} But Joab said to him, “You will not be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today,^[b] for the king’s son is dead.”

²¹ Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go and tell the king what you have seen.” After bowing to Joab, the Cushite ran off. ²² Ahimaaz the son of Zadok again spoke to Joab, “Whatever happens, let me go after the Cushite.” But Joab said, “Why is it that you want to go, my son? You have no good news that will bring you a reward.” ²³ But he said,^[c] “Whatever happens, I want to go!” So Joab^[d] said to him, “Then go!” So Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Jordan plain, and he passed the Cushite.

²⁴ Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates,^[e] and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate at the wall. When he looked, he saw a man running by himself. ²⁵ So the watchman called out and informed the king. The king said, “If he is by himself, he brings good news.”^[f] The runner^[g] came ever closer.

²⁶ Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called out to the gatekeeper, “There is another man running by himself.” The king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” ²⁷ The watchman said, “It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz^[h] son of Zadok.” The king said, “He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”

²⁸ Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “Greetings!”^[i] He bowed down before the king with his face toward the ground and said, “May the Lord your God be praised because he has defeated^[j] the men who opposed^[k] my lord the king!”

²⁹ The king replied, “How is the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz replied, “I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was all about.” ³⁰ The king said, “Turn aside and take your place here.” So he turned aside and waited.

³¹ Then the Cushite arrived and said,^[l] “May my lord the king now receive the good news! The Lord has vindicated you today and delivered you from the hand of all who have rebelled against you!”^{[m] 32} The king asked the Cushite, “How is the young man Absalom?” The Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who have plotted against you^[n] be like that young man!”

³³ (19:1)^[o] The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said, “My son, Absalom! My son, my son,^[p] Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”^[q]