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24 Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the city. The watchman was up on the roof of the gateway near the walls, looking around, and there was a man running by himself! 25 So the watchman called out his news to the king. The king responded, |If he's alone, he's bringing some news to report.| As the man continued to draw near and approach the palace, 26 the watchman observed another man running. So he called out to the gatekeeper, |There's another man running by himself!| The king replied, |He's also bringing some news to report!| 27 Then the watchman observed, |It looks to me that the runner out in front is running like Zadok's son Ahimaaz!| The king replied, |This is a good man bearing good news!| 28 |Everything's fine!| Ahimaaz announced to the king. He bowed low with his face to the ground before the king and said, |Praise be to the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who rebelled against your majesty the king.| 29 |Are things fine with respect to the young man Absalom?| the king asked. Ahimaaz answered, |I saw a lot of confusion about the time Joab was getting ready to send the king's courier and me, your servant, but I'm not sure what was going on.| 30 The king replied, |Stand here at attention and wait.| So he stepped to the side and stood there waiting. 31 Just then the Ethiopian arrived. He reported, |Good news, your majesty the king! The LORD has delivered you from the control of everyone who rebelled against you!| 32 The king asked the Ethiopian, |Is the young man safe?| The Ethiopian answered, |May the enemies of your majesty the king—including everyone who rebels and tries to harm you—become like that young man....| 33 Deeply shaken, the king went up to the chamber overlooking the city gate, weeping bitterly and crying out as he went along, |My son Absalom! My son! My son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom my son, my son!| 2 Samuel 18:24-33, Intl. Standard Version. Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation.
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