s been the messenger of good news, now
go and acquaint the king that his son is dead?" So he desired him to
desist. He then called Cushi, and committed the business to him, that
he should tell the king what he had seen. But when Ahimaaz again desired
him to let him go as a messenger, and assured him that he would only
relate what concerned the victory, but not concerning the death of
Absalom, he gave him leave to go to David. Now he took a nearer road
than the former did, for nobody knew it but himself, and he came before
Cushi. Now as David was sitting between the gates, [18] and waiting to
see when somebody would come to him from the battle, and tell him how
it went, one of the watchmen saw Ahimaaz running, and before he could
discern who he was, he told David that he saw somebody coming to him,
who said he was a good messenger. A little while after, he informed him
that another messenger followed him; whereupon the king said that he
also was a good messenger: but when the watchman saw Ahimaaz, and that
he was already very near, he gave the king notice that it was the son of
Zadok the high priest who came running. So David was very glad, and said
he was a messenger of good tidings, and brought him some such news from
the battle as he desired to hear.

5. While the king was saying thus, Ahimaaz appeared, and worshipped the
king. And when the king inquired of him about the battle, he said he
brought him the good news of victory and dominion. And when he inquired
what he had to say concerning his son, he said that he came away on
the sudden as soon as the enemy was defeated, but that he heard a great
noise of those that pursued Absalom, and that he could learn no more,
because of the haste he made when Joab sent him to inform him of the
victory. But when Cushi was come, and had worshipped him, and informed
him of the victory, he asked him about his son, who replied, "May the
like misfortune befall thine enemies as hath befallen Absalom." That
word did not permit either himself or his soldiers to rejoice for
the victory, though it was a very great one; but David went up to
the highest part of the city, [19] and wept for his son, and beat his
breast, tearing [the hair of] his head, tormenting himself all manner
of ways, and crying out, "O my son! I wish that I had died myself, and
ended my days with thee!" for he was of a tender natural affection, and
had extraordinary compassion for this son in particular. But when the
ar