1 Samuel 4:12-18

The Death of Eli

12A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, ^awith his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. 13When he arrived, ^bEli was sitting on his seat by the road watching, for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city and told the news, all the city cried out. 14When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, “What is this uproar?” Then the man hurried and came and told Eli. 15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old ^cand his eyes were set so that he could not see. 16And the man said to Eli, “I am he who has come from the battle; I fled from the battle today.” And he said, ^d“How did it go, my son?” 17He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” 18As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward ^efrom his seat by the side of the gate, and his neck was broken and he died, for the man was old and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

2 Samuel 18:19-31

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

19Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, ^f“Let me run and carry news to the king that ^gthe Lord has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.” 20And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king’s son is dead.” 21Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. 22Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?” 23“Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of ^hthe plain, and outran the Cushite.

24Now David ⁱwas sitting between the two gates, and ^jthe watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. 25The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he drew nearer and nearer. 26The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.” 27The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is ^klike the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, ^l“He is a good man and comes with good news.”

28Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, ^m“Blessed be the Lord your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” 29And the king said, ⁿ“Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.” 30And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

David’s Grief

31And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For ^othe Lord has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.”

2 Chronicles 30:6

6 ^pSo couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, ^qreturn to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of ^rthe kings of Assyria.

Esther 3:13-15

13Letters were sent ^sby couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction ^tto destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, ^uin one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, ^vand to plunder their goods. 14 ^wA copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 ^xThe couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, ^ybut the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Jeremiah 4:20

20 ^zCrash follows hard on crash;
the whole land is laid waste.
^aaSuddenly my tents are laid waste,
my curtains in a moment.

Jeremiah 50:24

24 ^abI set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,
and ^acyou did not know it;
you were found and caught,
because you opposed the Lord.