20. But Joab said to him, “You will not be a man who bears news today; you may bear news another day. Today you will not bear news because the king’s son is dead.”
21. Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, report to the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab, then ran off.
22. Ahimaaz again said to Joab, “Whatever may happen, let me run also, after the Cushite.”Then Joab said, “Why is it that you want to run, my son? There is no messenger’s reward for you to obtain.”
23. “Whatever happens, I want to run.”So he said to him, “Run.” So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and passed the Cushite.
24. Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gate, to the city wall. He lifted his eyes and saw a man running by himself.
25. The watchman called and told the king.The king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he came ever closer.
26. Then the watchman saw another man running. The watchman called to the gatekeeper and said, “Look there is another man running alone.”The king said, “He also is bringing news.”
27. The watchman said, “I think that the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz.”The king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”
28. Then Ahimaaz called to the king and said, “All is well.” He bowed down to the ground before the king and said, “Blessed be the Lord your God who has handed over the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.”
29. The king said, “Is it well for the young man Absalom?”Ahimaaz said, “I saw a great commotion when Joab sent the servant of the king, your servant, but I do not know what it was.”