~ David Receives Two Runners ~

While David was sitting
between the inner and outer gates,
the watchman went up to the roof
of the gateway by the wall.
As he looked out,
he saw a man running alone.
The watchman called out to the king and reported it.

The king said, "If he is alone, he must have good news."
And the man came closer and closer.

Then the watchman saw another man running,
and he called down to the gatekeeper,
"Look, another man running alone!"

The king said, "He must be bringing good news, too."

The watchman said, "It seems to me
that the first one runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok."

"He's a good man," the king said.
"He comes with good news."

Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!"
He bowed down before the king
with his face to the ground and said,
"Praise be to the Lord your God!
He has delivered up the men
who lifted their hands against my lord the king."

The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?"

Ahimaaz answered, "I saw great confusion
just as Joab was about to send
the king's servant and me, your servant, 
but I don't know what it was."

The king said, "Stand aside and wait there."
So he stepped aside and stood there.

Then the Cushite arrived and said,
"My lord the king, hear the good news!
The Lord has delivered you today
from all who rose up against you."

The king asked the Cushite,
"Is the young man Absalom safe?'

The Cushite replied,
"May the enemies of my lord the king
and all who rise up to harm you
be like that young man."

The king was shaken.
He went up to the room over the gateway and wept.
As he went, he said: "O my son Absalom!
My son, my son Absalom!
If only I had died instead of you --
O Absalom, my son, my son!"

(II Samuel 18:24-33)