And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, Let me run, I pray, and carry the king the news that Jehovah has avenged him of his enemies.
Word has just reached Joab's camp that the rebellion is over: Absalom is dead, and the throne David fled is his again. Ahimaaz asks for the job of carrying that word to the king. The chapter then turns from the battlefield to a question about messengers. A man can be fast on his feet and still be the wrong person to send.
The news Ahimaaz wants to carry gives the credit to the LORD, not to the army: God has settled accounts with the man who took his father's crown. That rebellion ended in shame:
The battle takes place. The man who lifted himself up so proudly dies a death of special shame and curse, hanging on a tree. He had flattered Israel to win them as his supporters against his father. He sought rule but not from God, setting himself against the glory of God and the king of Israel.
Ahimaaz had his own reason for pressing to go, and it had nothing to do with his career:
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David. He had risked his life to warn David of coming danger. Now he does not want to let another have the privilege of announcing his triumph to the king. Joab is always shrewd in politics, and he knows the king's feelings toward Absalom. He tries to discourage Ahimaaz, but in vain. It matters little to Ahimaaz whether this may hurt him personally or hinder his career. He does not share Joab's politics. Whatever may come of it, he wants to be the first, bowed before the king, to acknowledge the dignity that is his again.
Joab's first answer is no, and the reason has nothing to do with speed. He had taken the measure of the man:
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok the priest was eager to bear the message. But Joab knew him to be a tender-hearted man. He knew Ahimaaz would not want to tell David of the death of Absalom. Therefore Joab chose another man, the Cushite, to do so.
Ahimaaz arrives first and does what he asked to do: he gives God the credit for the victory. Then David asks about his son, and the tender heart Joab had spotted takes over:
Ahimaaz was so anxious to set the king's mind at rest that he called out "All is well." Then he gives God the honour for having delivered up the man who had raised revolt against David... However, David's greatest concern was for his son, and he asks, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz knew Absalom was dead, but he was afraid to tell David this. So instead he told him that he had seen a great uproar, but knew nothing of how it ended. In other words, the goodness of Ahimaaz's character led him to compromise the faithfulness of his message.
Ahimaaz asked to do two things: to run, and to carry news. He did the running well and left the message to the slower man behind him. One writer draws the lesson for anyone who wants to be useful:
Service is necessary, but we cannot serve rightly apart from hearing His word. Ahimaaz wished to serve by running to the king with news about the death of Absalom. He was physically stronger than Cushi, but his running gained nothing, because he had no message from Joab.
The king's verdict on Ahimaaz stayed with him. Later he is found among those honoured in Solomon's kingdom:
Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, receives an equal honour. He was faithful to David at the risk of his life. The old king had given this testimony about him: "He is a good man, and comes with good news." He was the first to announce to David the victory which restored his throne to him and assured him of inheriting it according to God.
- The message first. The victory was God's before it was news. The LORD had delivered David from his enemies, and the runner's only job was to carry that word.
- The messenger's motive. Ahimaaz wanted the king's honour, not his own career. He had already risked his life for David once.
- The commander's caution. Joab said no at first. He judged Ahimaaz too tender-hearted to deliver the part of the message that would hurt.
- The message delivered. He gave God the credit for the victory. Then he stopped short of the truth about Absalom, and his kindness weakened his faithfulness.
- The running without it. He outran the other man and still arrived empty. Speed and zeal do not make a servant useful without a message to carry.
And Joab said to him, Thou shalt not be a bearer of news to-day, but thou shalt carry the news another day; but to-day thou shalt carry no news, because the king's son is dead.
Joab has just killed Absalom in the wood, and the battle is won. But when Ahimaaz asks to carry word to David, Joab refuses him: the day of victory is also the day the king's son died.
Joab sends a different runner, and his reason is the kind of man Ahimaaz is.
Someone must carry news of the battle against Absalom to David. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok the priest was eager to take the message. But Joab knew he was a tender-hearted man, and that he would not want to tell David that Absalom was dead. So Joab chose another man, the Cushite, to do it.
Ahimaaz will not be put off. He had already risked his life for David once, and his own career is not what drives him now.
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David. He had risked his life to warn him of impending danger... Joab, shrewd as always about politics, knows how the king feels about Absalom. He tries to discourage Ahimaaz, but it is no use. It matters little to Ahimaaz if this hurts him or damages his career; he does not share Joab's politics. Whatever comes of it, he wants to be the first to bow before the king and honour the dignity that is his again. Perhaps he is also thinking of softening the blow that Absalom's death will deal to his beloved master's heart. One thing is certain: he has only David's glory in view. May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, and let no one get there before us!
Joab decides what David may and may not hear. Yet Joab is the man who made this news himself, against the king's will.
We see God's hand in this disaster, but we also see Joab's murderous hand, a terrible thing. He is always committing evil. Here he shows how much respect he has for the king's will and person. His self-interest leads him to get rid of Absalom, who had once humbled his pride and who might one day push him aside by putting Amasa in his place as commander. An ordinary man from among the people has more respect for the king's will than the head of his army does.
Joab's flat phrase hides how the king's son actually died.
The godless son hangs in a tree, cursed and shamed. The magnificent hair that was his glory becomes the means of his ruin. In his youth, before he had any sons, this man had put up a monument "to keep [his] name in remembrance." Now he lies buried under an unknown heap of stones in the wood of Ephraim. His monument still stands today, and it is a reminder of his humiliation and his terrible judgment.
after_check: meaning kept
Events proved Joab right. The king cared far less about the victory than about one person.
The watchman announces that he recognizes the swift runner as Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. "And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news." His message is that all is well. But the anxious father pays little attention to the victory won, and asks about the young man Absalom. Then Cushi, the second runner, arrives. He carries the news of Absalom's death, and he passes it on to David gently and carefully.
- Victory. David's army won the day, and the throne was his again.
- Verdict. The runner Joab held back was the one man too tender to tell a father his son had died.
- Volunteer. Ahimaaz ran anyway. His career meant nothing to him; he only wanted to be first at the feet of his king.
- Villain. "The king's son is dead" was Joab's own doing — self-interest dressed as loyalty, against the king's will.
- Verification. David's first question was not about his kingdom. It was about Absalom. Joab had judged the king's heart right.
Then said Joab to the Cushite, Go, tell the king what thou hast seen. And the Cushite bowed himself to Joab, and ran.
The battle against Absalom is over, and Absalom is dead by Joab's hand. Now Joab must choose who carries the news to David — and the man he picks is not the man who volunteered.
The man Joab sends is known only by this one errand. Some translations give him the name Cushi; a reference work sums up his whole story in a line:
Joab's messenger to David on the death of Absalom. 2 Samuel 18:21-32, where the Revised Version has "the Cushite."
Joab chose with care. Ahimaaz, son of Zadok the priest, had asked first, and Joab turned him down. One writer explains why:
Someone had to take news of the battle against Absalom to David. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok the priest was eager to carry the message. But Joab knew he was a tender-hearted man, and that he would not want to tell David of the death of Absalom. So Joab chose another man, the Cushite, to do it. He began his long run at once.
Joab sends the report, and Joab caused the death it reports. That shapes how we read his order to go and tell the king:
We see God's hand in this disaster, but we also see Joab's murderous hand, a terrible thing. He is always committing evil. Here he shows how much respect he has for the king's will and person. His self-interest leads him to get rid of Absalom. Absalom had once humbled his pride, and might one day work against him by putting Amasa in his place… A man from among the people has more respect for the king's will than the very head of his army does.
Ahimaaz wanted the same errand, and he did not share Joab's motives:
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David. He had risked his life to warn him of coming danger. Now he does not want to let another have the privilege of announcing his triumph to the king. Joab is always politically shrewd, and he knows the king's feelings toward Absalom. He tries to discourage him, but in vain. It matters little to Ahimaaz whether this may hurt him or hinder his career. He does not share Joab's politics… One thing is certain: he has only David's glory in view. May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, letting no one outstrip us!
Ahimaaz ran anyway, and reached David first. But he held back the hardest part of the news:
Ahimaaz knew that Absalom had been killed, but he was afraid to tell David. So instead he said he had seen a great commotion but knew nothing of how it turned out. In other words, Ahimaaz's good character led him to compromise the faithfulness of the message.
The Cushite, sent to say what he had seen, said it — and said it with care:
Cushi, the second runner, appears. He carries the news of Absalom's death, and he passes it on in a tender and cautious way.
One writer takes Ahimaaz as a warning for anyone who wants to serve God:
There was the Word for the world. But between the two stand the work and the worker, and they are essential if the Word is to reach the world… Christians saw and felt the need of the world and decided to be workers. Then they asked to be given work. Then they went to the Word for a message — no wonder disappointment and discouragement followed. The order is not world, worker, work, Word, but Word, work, worker, world. We must keep the sequence right. If we do not, we shall run to the world without a message, like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, who wanted to run to King David though he had no news ready.
- Sent. Joab passes over the eager volunteer and sends the Cushite. He knows Ahimaaz would not want to tell David that Absalom is dead.
- Sender. Joab, who sends the news, is the man who killed Absalom against the king's clear order. An ordinary soldier showed the king more respect than he did.
- Seen. The Cushite's task is to tell what he saw. He reports the death in a tender and cautious way.
- Softened. Ahimaaz arrives first, but he says less. His kind heart compromises the faithfulness of the message.
- Substance. Running fast is worth nothing without something to say. The order is Word, work, worker, world — not a worker hurrying off with no news ready.
And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said yet again to Joab, Come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cushite. And Joab said, Why wilt thou run, my son, seeing that there is no news suited [to thee]?
Joab had already sent the Cushite with the report of the battle. Still Ahimaaz would not let it rest. He asked a second time to run. Joab's reply puts a blunt question to every eager messenger: why run at all, when you have nothing to carry?
Joab's refusal was not about the road. It was about the man. He knew Ahimaaz, and he could guess how this news would land on him.
David had to be told how the battle against Absalom had gone. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok the priest was eager to carry the message. But Joab knew he was a tender-hearted man, and that he would not want to tell David of the death of Absalom. So Joab chose another man, the Cushite, to do it. He set off at once on his long run. But Ahimaaz was anxious to give good news to David, and urged Joab to let him run too.
Ahimaaz will run whatever it costs him. One writer takes that "come what may" as the sign of a heart set on the king alone.
Joab is always shrewd in politics, and he knows how the king feels about Absalom. He tries to discourage him, but in vain. Ahimaaz does not care whether this hurts him or holds back his career. He does not share Joab's politics. Whatever comes of it, he wants to be the first to bow before the king and own the honour that is the king's once more. This is the focus of all his energy, for he belongs to David wholeheartedly... One thing is certain: he has only David's glory in view. May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, letting no one outrun us!
Commentators read Joab's motive differently. One sees a commander sparing a tender man a painful task. The other sees a politician who knows how the king will take the news.
One writer turns Joab's objection into a warning about Christian service. Wanting to go is not the same as having something to deliver. The order of the two matters.
There was the "Word" for the "world." But between the two, and needed if the Word is to reach the world, are the "work" and the "worker"... Christians saw and felt the need of the world. They decided to be workers. Then they asked to be given work. Then they went to the Word for a message. No wonder the result was disappointment and discouragement. The order is not world, worker, work, Word, but Word, work, worker, world. We must keep the sequence right. We must begin with the Word, or we shall run to the world with no message. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok wanted to run to King David like that, though he had no news ready.
Joab's misgiving proved right. Ahimaaz outran the Cushite and reached the king first — and then could not finish the sentence.
Ahimaaz was so anxious to set the king's mind at rest that he called out "All is well." Then he gives God the honour for having delivered up the man who had raised revolt against David... But the king's greatest concern was for his son. He asks, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz knew he had been killed, but was afraid to tell David this. So instead he told him that he had seen a great tumult, but knew nothing of how it ended. In other words, the goodness of the character of Ahimaaz influenced him to compromise the faithfulness of the message.
Joab asks, "Why will you run?" Scripture has its own warning for the servant who sets off unsent.
We need to have our eye on God alone. If He sends us, all is well; then we may gladly go without a fear or a question; but woe to the one who runs unsent. The Lord must say of other prophets: "I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied" (Jer. 23:21). Let us beware of such work done in the name of the Lord!
- Before the run. Wanting to run is not the same as having something to report. The Word comes before the worker, or the runner arrives empty.
- Why he ran. Ahimaaz is not chasing promotion. He runs for the king's honour, not his own career.
- Why Joab said no. Joab reads his man right. A tender heart can be the very thing that unfits someone to carry a hard word.
- What the run cost. Ahimaaz reaches David first and says "All is well." Then he holds back the one fact the king asked for. Kindness bent the truth.
- The one question. For every servant the question is not "am I willing?" but "am I sent?" Woe to the one who runs unsent.
-- But, come what may, let me run. And he said to him, Run. And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outstripped the Cushite.
Absalom's revolt is over, and someone must carry the news to the waiting king. Joab has already sent the Cushite, but Ahimaaz begs to run as well. His words, "Come what may... I will run," raise a question bigger than that day: what makes a messenger fit to run, speed or a message?
Joab's reluctance was not about Ahimaaz's speed. It was about the news itself, and the kind of man Ahimaaz was.
Ahimaaz the son of Zadok the priest was eager to carry the message. But Joab knew he was a tender-hearted man, and that he would not want to tell David of the death of Absalom. Therefore Joab chose another man, the Cushite, to do so. He began his long run at once. But Ahimaaz was anxious to give good news to David, and urged Joab to also let him run. Of course this was not necessary, but at the persistence of Ahimaaz, Joab gave him permission (v.23). It seems the Cushite had taken a mountain trail. That route would be rough, though perhaps shorter than the way through the plain, which Ahimaaz chose. The plain would at least be easier running, and Ahimaaz was fast enough to out-distance the Cushite.
Commentators differ on whether this second run was worth making at all. One calls it unnecessary. Another sees a devotion in it that had already cost Ahimaaz something.
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David. He had risked his life to warn him of danger that was coming. Now he does not want to let another have the privilege of announcing his triumph to the king. Joab is always shrewd in politics, and he knows the king's feelings toward Absalom. He tries to discourage Ahimaaz, but in vain. It matters little to Ahimaaz whether this hurts him or hinders his career. He does not share Joab's politics. Whatever may come of it, he wants to be the first to bow before the king and acknowledge the dignity that is his again. One thing is certain: he has only David's glory in view. May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, letting no one outstrip us!
The sting in the account is that Joab never gave Ahimaaz anything to say. He is the picture of someone who feels the urgency and starts running before he has received anything to carry.
There was the "Word" for the "world." But between the two stand the "work" and the "worker," and they are necessary if the Word is to reach the world. Often this true sequence was reversed. Christians saw and felt the need of the world and decided to be workers. Then they asked for work, and then went to the Word for a message. It is small wonder that disappointment and discouragement were the result. The order is not world, worker, work, Word, but Word, work, worker, world. We must keep the sequence right, or we shall be running to the world without a message, as Ahimaaz the son of Zadok wanted to run to King David though he had no tidings ready.
Being fit for the job did not make up for having nothing to say.
Ahimaaz wished to be of service by running with news to the king about the death of Absalom. He was in better physical shape than the Cushite, but his running was profitless, because he had no message from Joab.
Joab had judged the man rightly. David's one real question undid him.
However, his greatest concern was for his son, and he asks, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz knew Absalom was dead, but he was afraid to tell David. So instead he said that he had seen a great uproar, but knew nothing of how it ended. In other words, the goodness of the character of Ahimaaz influenced him to compromise the faithfulness of the message.
Even so, Ahimaaz is not remembered with contempt. The king himself had spoken well of him.
Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, was faithful to David at the risk of his life. About him the old king had given this testimony: "He is a good man and comes with good news." He was the first to announce to David the victory. That victory restored his throne to him and assured him of inheriting it according to God.
- Word first. The right order is Word, work, worker, world — reverse it, and you run to the world with nothing to say.
- Message before speed. Ahimaaz outran the Cushite and still ran to no purpose, because Joab had given him no news to carry.
- Motive still matters. He wanted no career advantage, only to be first at the feet of the restored king — a run worth imitating.
- Kindness is not faithfulness. His gentleness made him dodge David's question; the truth had to wait for the second runner.
- Character counts. David called him a good man who brings good news, and he was the first to bring the king word of the victory that restored his throne.
And David sat between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, on to the wall, and lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man running alone.
The battle for David's throne is being fought out in the forest, and the king is not in it. He sits at the city gate, and the first news of the outcome is one man running toward the wall.
David wanted to march out with his troops, and they refused to let him. One writer says both sides were right, and that the people refused out of active faith.
David wants to go out with his people into battle. They all reply: "You shall not go out." Both these feelings are according to God. Instead of going out with his people David had stayed at Jerusalem in the past (2 Sam. 11:1), and he had had to bear the consequences. Now he understands that his place is with the army. But the people are right too, for they value David's worth: "You are worth ten thousand of us" (v. 3)... Both sides are convinced that everything depends on David. But on the people's side faith is active. For them, David away from the battlefield counts just as much as David present. "It is better that you send us help from the city," they say. David yields to their request: "Whatever seems best to you I will do." This is how the Lord Jesus acts toward us... He yields to faith, He allows Himself to be persuaded, for He can do nothing other than answer what His own grace has produced in the heart.
The gate is a public place, but David's waiting there is private agony. Either outcome would carry him back to an old sin.
With a heart full of such affections, he sits between the gates to wait for the solemn outcome. The captains and their armies go off to the battle of the wood of Ephraim. Victory or defeat would be much the same to David. Whatever the result, it could only tell him where it came from. It would also carry a sad memory of that other battle, in which another man had fallen — fallen under the judgment of God, murdered by David's hand, while he stayed idle in the city. But the Lord is only refining him, and in no way destroying him. His chastening, blessed be His name, is salvation.
The watchman on the roof could tell what the runner meant before the man said a word.
David was waiting anxiously for news, sitting between the gates of the city. As the watchman saw a man running alone, David knew that he was bringing news. As he came nearer the watchman saw another following.
Joab tried to talk the first runner out of going. Ahimaaz went anyway, and what it might cost him did not matter.
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David... Now he does not want to let another have the privilege of announcing his triumph to the king. Joab is always shrewd in politics, and he knows how the king feels about Absalom. He tries to discourage Ahimaaz, but he fails. It matters little to Ahimaaz whether this may hurt him personally or hinder his career... Whatever may come of it, he wants to be the first, bowed before the king, to acknowledge the dignity that is his again... May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, letting no one get ahead of us!
The report of the battle reached David. One name mattered more to him.
The watchman announces that he recognises the swift runner as Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. "And the king said, 'He is a good man and comes with good news.'" His message is that all is well. But the anxious father-heart pays little attention to the victory won, and asks about the young man Absalom.
None of this is an accident of politics. David's exile and his grief came under the hand of God.
It is painful to see the conqueror of Goliath driven from his home and his throne by his beloved son — and driven under God's hand. For if God had not allowed it, who could have driven God's elect from the royal seat in which Jehovah had placed him?... But whom He loves He chastens. So all this displays the righteous rule of God. For David it is also a time of deep searching of heart, and of a more real and closer knowledge of God.
- Yielded — David meant to fight. His people said he was worth ten thousand of them, so he helped them from the city instead.
- Waited — between the gates, victory and defeat felt much the same to him. God's chastening was meant to save him.
- Watched — the man on the roof read the news before it spoke: one runner alone meant a message, not a rout.
- Ran — Ahimaaz ran with nothing to gain, only to be first at the king's feet with word of his restored honour.
- Asked — the king let the victory pass and asked after his son. The whole scene lay under the hand of the God who chastens those He loves.
And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is news in his mouth. And he came on and drew near.
David sits between the gates while a watchman calls down what he can see. A single figure is running toward the city, and the king reads it as a sign that news from the battle is coming. But David's first question is not who won. It is what happened to his son.
David stayed behind while his captains went to the battle. One writer weighs what the news would mean to him either way:
With a heart full of such feelings, "he sits between the gates to wait the solemn outcome." The captains and their armies go to the battle of the wood of Ephraim. Victory or defeat would be much the same to David. Either result would tell him where it came from. Either would carry a sad reminder of that other battle in which another man had fallen — fallen in the judgment of God, as one murdered by his hand, though he himself was lingering in the city all the while. But the Lord is only refining him, and in no way destroying him. His chastening, blessed be His name, is salvation.
The king makes his judgment from one detail — the runner is alone:
David was waiting anxiously for news, sitting between the gates of the city. As the watchman saw a man running alone, David knew that he was bringing news. As he came nearer the watchman saw another following. Then the watchman recognised the first as Ahimaaz. David knew the man, and expected him to bring good news.
The first runner was Ahimaaz, son of Zadok. One writer sees in his running a heart set on the king:
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David. He had risked his life to warn him of coming danger. Now he does not want to let another have the privilege of announcing his triumph to the king... It matters little to Ahimaaz whether this hurts him or holds back his career... Whatever comes of it, he wants to be the first to bow before the king and acknowledge the honour that is his again... May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, permitting no one to outstrip us!
Ahimaaz reached the king with good news. His kindness then kept back the rest of it:
Indeed, Ahimaaz was so anxious to set the king's mind at rest that he called out "All is well."... However, his greatest concern was for his son. He asks, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz knew the young man was dead, but he was afraid to tell David. So he said instead that he had seen a great uproar, but knew nothing of how it ended. In other words, the good character of Ahimaaz led him to compromise the faithfulness of his message.
The king hears of the victory and asks about his son instead. The second runner brings the news the first held back:
The watchman announces that he recognises Ahimaaz the son of Zadok in the swift runner. "And the king said, 'He is a good man, and comes with good news.'" His message is that all is well. But the anxious father-heart pays little attention to the victory won, and asks about the young man Absalom. Cushi, the second runner, arrives. He carries the news of Absalom's death, and he gives it in a tender and careful way.
The news that ended the revolt reopened an older wound:
No: David has no music at this time. Absalom had fallen, and the blood of Uriah was crying from the ground again in David's ears. It was not right that he should celebrate and be glad... Victory was defeat, and life was death to David. His path is still the perfect path of the penitent; and so he now goes to his room rather than to his throne.
- Waiting — David sits between the gates while the battle settles his own chastening. Either outcome will speak to him of his sin. Yet the Lord is refining him, not destroying him.
- Sign — The runner comes alone, so the king knows a messenger is on the way with news.
- Runner — Ahimaaz runs at cost to himself, wanting only to be first at his king's feet with word of his restored honour.
- Silence — A good man can bring true news of victory and still hold back the hard half. His kindness cost his faithfulness.
- Grief — At the end the father hears only about his son. Victory becomes defeat, and the king goes to his room instead of his throne.
And the watchman saw another man running; and the watchman called to the porter and said, Behold a man running alone. And the king said, He also is a bearer of news.
David sits at the city gate. Out in the wood his army is fighting his son Absalom, and a watchman on the roof is his only source of news. Now a second runner appears behind the first. Who is coming, and will he tell the king the truth?
David is a waiting father as much as a waiting king. Everything reaches him second-hand. A man on the wall sees the runners long before anyone can hear a word.
David was waiting anxiously for news, sitting between the gates of the city. As the watchman saw a man running alone, David knew that he was bringing news. As he came nearer the watchman saw another following. Then the watchman recognised the first runner as Ahimaaz. David knew the man, and expected him to bring good news.
The second runner goes back to a decision on the battlefield. Joab picked one messenger. Then Ahimaaz talked him into sending a second man he had not wanted to send.
Someone had to carry news of the battle against Absalom to David. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok the priest was eager to take the message. But Joab knew he was a tender-hearted man. He would not want to tell David that Absalom was dead. So Joab chose another man, the Cushite, to do it. He set off at once on his long run. But Ahimaaz was anxious to give good news to David, and urged Joab to let him run too. Of course this was not necessary, but because Ahimaaz kept pressing, Joab gave him permission (v. 23). It seems the Cushite took a mountain trail. It would be rough, though possibly shorter than the way by the plain, which Ahimaaz chose. That at least was easier running, and Ahimaaz was fast enough to outrun the Cushite.
He did not run to get ahead. Commentators see a heart set on David alone, and a call to run the same way.
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David. He had risked his life to warn him of coming danger. Now he does not want to let another have the privilege of announcing his triumph to the king. Joab, always politically shrewd and knowing the king's feelings toward Absalom, tries to discourage him, but in vain. It matters little to Ahimaaz if this hurts him or holds back his career. He does not share Joab's politics… One thing is certain: he has only David's glory in view. May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, letting no one outrun us!
David judges the message by the messenger, before a word reaches him. But the news he wants is not news of the war.
The watchman announces that he recognises in the swift runner Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. "And the king said, He is a good man, and comes with good news." All is well — that is his message. But the anxious father-heart pays little attention to the victory won, and asks after the young man Absalom.
When Ahimaaz reaches the king, his warmth becomes a weakness. He knew what had happened, and did not say it.
Ahimaaz was so anxious to set the king's mind at rest that he called out, "All is well." Then he gives God the honour for having handed over the man who had raised revolt against David… However, his greatest concern was for his son, and he asks, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz knew Absalom was dead, but he was afraid to tell David. So instead he said he had seen a great commotion, but knew nothing of how it ended. In other words, the goodness of Ahimaaz's character led him to compromise the faithfulness of the message.
The slower runner did what the faster one would not. He told the truth, and he told it gently.
The Cushite, following close behind, also gave David the good news of his armies' victory first. Then David asked about Absalom, and he told him, "May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against you to do you harm, be like that young man!" No doubt this way of speaking was as considerate as anyone could expect in telling the truth of the matter.
David's verdict at the gate stayed attached to his name long afterwards.
Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, receives equal honour. He was faithful to David at the risk of his life, and the old king had given this testimony about him: "He is a good man, and comes with good news." He was the first to announce to David the victory that restored his throne to him.
- Watching — David waits between the gates and learns everything through a watchman's eyes. The watchman sees the second runner before either man can speak.
- Running — Ahimaaz outruns the Cushite to be first at his king's feet, not to get ahead. Run to your King the same way.
- Reputation — the king judges the news by the man carrying it: a good man brings good news.
- Reserve — Ahimaaz is too tender to report Absalom's death. His good character compromises the faithfulness of his message.
- Reward — the words David spoke at the gate became the lasting testimony of Ahimaaz.
And the watchman said, I see the running of the foremost like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man; and comes with good news.
The watchman names a runner before he can see his face. David hears the name and at once decides what the news must be. Two questions sit inside that moment: can a man's character guarantee his news, and what is David waiting to hear?
David's confidence was not a guess. Ahimaaz had carried news to him before, during Absalom's revolt, and he outran the man who set off ahead of him.
When Absalom revolted, David had to flee from Jerusalem. Zadok stayed loyal to David and returned to the city. Ahimaaz and Jonathan the son of Abiathar stayed at En-rogel. Zadok sent them word of the counsel of Ahithophel and of Hushai, and they hurried to David with the news. … After Absalom's defeat and death, Ahimaaz begged to run with the news to David. Joab at first refused, but after Cushi had started, he let Ahimaaz go as well. Ahimaaz was swift of foot, so he reached David first and told him of the defeat of Absalom, but let Cushi tell of his death.
David sits at the gate, waiting for word from the battle. The watchman gives him a name, and the name is enough.
David was waiting anxiously for news, sitting between the gates of the city. As the watchman saw a man running alone, David knew that he was bringing news. As he came nearer the watchman saw another following. Then the watchman recognised the first runner as Ahimaaz. Knowing the man, David expected him to bring good news.
Joab tried to stop him from running at all. One writer reads Ahimaaz's refusal to be held back as pure devotion to the king's honour.
Ahimaaz wants to be the first to bring the good news to David. He had risked his life to warn him of coming danger. Now he does not want to let anyone else have the privilege of announcing his triumph to the king. Joab, always politically shrewd and knowing the king's feelings toward Absalom, tries to discourage him, but in vain. It matters little to Ahimaaz whether this may hurt him or hold back his career. He does not share Joab's politics… Perhaps he is also thinking of softening the blow that Absalom's death will deal to his beloved master's heart. One thing is certain: he has only David's glory in view. May we run like Ahimaaz! May we run to be the first at the feet of our victorious Lord, letting no one outrun us!
David's verdict proved half right. Ahimaaz did bring word of victory. But David's mind was elsewhere, and the second runner had to carry what the first would not say.
"And the king said, He is a good man and comes with good news." All is well — that is his message. But the anxious father's heart paid little attention to the victory won, and asked about the young man Absalom. Then Cushi, the second runner, appears. He carries the news of Absalom's death, and passes it on to David in a tender and careful way.
Here commentators draw a sharp lesson from the same man David praised. Good character shaped what he said — and what he held back.
Ahimaaz knew Absalom was dead, but he was afraid to tell David. So instead he told him that he had seen a great uproar, but did not know anything of its outcome. In other words, the goodness of Ahimaaz's character led him to compromise the faithfulness of the message.
David's verdict on Ahimaaz was not forgotten. It stands as a testimony attached to him beyond this chapter.
Ahimaaz, son of Zadok, receives an equal honour. He was faithful to David at the risk of his life, and the old king had given this testimony about him: "He is a good man and comes with good news." He was the first to announce to David the victory which restored his throne to him and assured him of inheriting it according to God.
Commentators differ in emphasis. One holds up Ahimaaz's running as a pattern to copy. Another reads his answer to David as a warning: kindness can soften the truth too far. Both readings come from the same man.
- Character — David's verdict rests on a known history. Ahimaaz had carried word to him before, at the risk of his life.
- Confidence — knowing the man, the king expects the message to match him, before the runner says a word.
- Devotion — he runs not for reward or career, but to be first at the feet of the king whose throne is restored.
- Caution — asked about Absalom, he softens the truth to spare the king. Good character is no substitute for a faithful message.
- Commendation — the king's word about him outlived the day. Yet David cared less for the victory than for the son he had lost.