24. While David was sitting between the inner and outer gates of the town, the watchman climbed to the roof of the gateway by the wall. As he looked, he saw a lone man running toward them.
25. He shouted the news down to David, and the king replied, “If he is alone, he has news.”As the messenger came closer,
26. the watchman saw another man running toward them. He shouted down, “Here comes another one!”The king replied, “He also will have news.”
27. “The first man runs like Ahimaaz son of Zadok,” the watchman said.“He is a good man and comes with good news,” the king replied.
28. Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “Everything is all right!” He bowed before the king with his face to the ground and said, “Praise to the lord your God, who has handed over the rebels who dared to stand against my lord the king.”
29. “What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?”Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab told me to come, there was a lot of commotion. But I didn’t know what was happening.”
30. “Wait here,” the king told him. So Ahimaaz stepped aside.