2 Samuel 18:21-33 ▼

21 So Joab (YHWH is father) said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running.

22 Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) son of Zadok (righteous), however, persisted and said to Joab (YHWH is father), “No matter what, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” “My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?”

23 “No matter what, I want to run!” he replied. “Then run!” Joab told him. So Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) ran by way of the plain (the plain of the Jordan) and outran the Cushite.

24 Now David (beloved) was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone.

25 So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near,

26 the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one also brings good news,” said the king.

27 The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) son of Zadok (righteous).” “This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.”

28 Then Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) called out to the king, “All is well!” And he bowed facedown before the king. He continued, “Blessed be the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheka}! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.”

29 The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom (my father is peace) all right?” And Ahimaaz (my brother is wrath) replied, “When Joab (YHWH is father) sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.”

30 “Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.” So he stepped aside.

31 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD {YHWH} has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”

32 The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom (my father is peace) all right?” And the Cushite replied, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you to harm you be like that young man.”

33 The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom (my father is peace)! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”