2Sa 18:19-31 | NASB2020 | STEP | Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said , “ Please let me run and bring the king news that the Lord has freed him from the hand of his enemies !”

2 Samuel 18:19-31

David Is Grief-stricken

19 Then ^aAhimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and bring the king news ^bthat the Lord has ^{▼▼Lit vindicated}freed him from the hand of his enemies!” 20 But Joab said to him, “You are not the man to bring news this day, but you shall bring news another day; however, you shall bring no news this day, because the king’s son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” So the Cushite bowed to Joab and ran. 22 However, Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said once more to Joab, “But whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why would you run, my son, since ^dyou will have no messenger’s reward for going?” 23 “But whatever happens,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed by the Cushite.

24 Now ^eDavid was sitting between the two gates; and ^fthe watchman went to the roof of the gate by the wall, and raised his eyes and looked; and behold, a man was running by himself. 25 So the watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is by himself there is good news in his mouth.” And he came nearer and nearer. 26 Then the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Behold, another man is running by himself.” And the king said, “This one also is bringing good news.” 27 The watchman said, “I ^{▼▼Lit see}think the running form of the first one ^his like the running form of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “ ⁱThis is a good man, and he is coming with good news.”

28 Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, “ ^{▼▼Lit Peace; Heb Shalom}All is well.” And ^khe prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground. And he said, “ ^lBlessed is the Lord your God, who has turned over the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 29 But the king said, “ ^mIs it well with the young man Absalom?” And Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and your servant, I saw a great commotion, but ⁿI did not know what it was.” 30 Then the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

31 Then behold, the Cushite arrived, and the Cushite said, “Let my lord the king receive good news, for ^othe Lord has ^{▼▼Lit vindicated}freed you this day from the hand of all those who rose up against you.”