Ahimaaz

24Zadok the priest was there as well. The Levites with him carried the ark of God's covenant. They set the ark down, and Abiathar gave offerings until everyone had left the city.

And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.

NoteThe Levites were one big family group of Israel. Their job was helping with worship. A priest led the worship and brought people's gifts to God. The ark was the special box that showed God was with his people.

25The king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If the LORD is pleased with me, he will bring me back. Then I will see the ark and God's house again."

And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

NoteGod's house was the special tent in Jerusalem. That is where people came to worship God.

26"But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' then here I am. He may do to me whatever seems right to him."

But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.

27The king also said to Zadok the priest, "You are a seer, a man God shows things to. Go back to the city in peace. Take your son Ahimaaz and Abiathar's son Jonathan with you."

The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.

28"I will wait at the river crossings out in the desert. I will stay there until you send me news."

See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.

NoteRiver crossings were shallow spots where people could walk across the water.

29So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. They stayed there.

Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.

32David reached the top of the hill, where he used to worship God. Hushai the Archite came there to meet him. Hushai's coat was torn, and he had dirt on his head.

And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:

NoteTearing your coat and putting dirt on your head showed deep sadness. People did this so others could see how they felt.

33David said to him, "If you come along with me, you will only be a load for me to carry."

Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:

34"Instead, go back to the city. Say to Absalom, 'I will serve you, my king. I served your father before, and now I will serve you.' Then you can ruin Ahithophel's advice for me."

But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father’s servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.

35"Zadok and Abiathar the priests will be there with you. Tell them everything you hear in the king's house."

And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king’s house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

36"Their two sons are with them, Ahimaaz and Jonathan. Send those two to me with everything you hear."

Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok’s son, and Jonathan Abiathar’s son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.

37So Hushai, David's friend, went into the city. Absalom was arriving in Jerusalem at the same time.

So Hushai David’s friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.

Note"David's friend" was a real job at the palace. The king's friend was a trusted helper who gave him advice.

15Then Hushai went to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He told them both plans, Ahithophel's and his own.

Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.

NoteA priest was a man who served God for the people.

16"Send word to David quickly. Tell him not to stay tonight by the river crossings in the desert. Tell him to cross over at once. If he waits, he and all his people may be destroyed."

Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.

NoteA river crossing is a shallow place. People could walk across the water there instead of swimming.

17Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at a spring called En-rogel. They could not let anyone see them go into the city. A servant girl brought them the news. Then they carried it to King David.

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by Enrogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.

NoteA spring is a place where water comes up out of the ground. People went there to fill their water jars.

18But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two left fast. They came to a house in Bahurim. The man there had a well in his yard. They climbed down into it.

Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man’s house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.

NoteA well is a deep hole dug down to water. This one was dry enough for two men to hide inside.

19The man's wife spread a cover over the mouth of the well. She scattered grain on top of the cover. Nobody could tell anything was hidden there.

And the woman took and spread a covering over the well’s mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.

NoteWomen spread grain outside to dry in the sun. So the grain made the well look like a normal work spot.

20Absalom's servants came to the woman and asked where Ahimaaz and Jonathan were. She said, "They went over the brook." The men looked but could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

And when Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

21After the men left, the two climbed out of the well. They hurried to King David. They said, "Get up and cross the river right now. This is the plan Ahithophel made against you."

And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.

22So David and all his people got up. They crossed the Jordan River. By morning light, every single one of them had crossed.

Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.

NoteThe Jordan is the big river of that land. Once David crossed it, the river lay between him and his enemies.

19Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, "Let me run and tell the king the news. The LORD has saved him from his enemies."

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies.

NoteZadok was a priest, a man who led people in worshiping God. There were no phones then, so news was carried by fast runners. When LORD is printed in big letters, it stands for God's own special name.

20Joab said, "You are not the one to carry news today. You may do it another day. But not today, because the king's son is dead."

And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king’s son is dead.

NoteA runner who brought happy news often got a reward. A runner with sad news could face an angry king.

21Then Joab said to a man from Cush, "Go and tell the king what you saw." The man bowed to Joab and started running.

Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.

NoteCush was a land far to the south, in Africa. Bowing was a way of showing respect.

22Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, asked Joab again. He said, "No matter what, please let me run after him too." Joab said, "Why run, my son? Your news will not earn you any reward."

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?

23"No matter what, I want to run," he said. Joab said, "Then run." So Ahimaaz ran along the flat road and passed the other man.

But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.

NoteOne road went over hills and one went along flat ground. The flat road was longer but much easier to run.

24David was sitting between the two gates of the city. A guard climbed up to the roof over the gate. He looked out and saw a man running alone.

And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.

NoteCity gates had an outer gate and an inner gate, with a space between. From the roof above, a guard could see far down the road.

25The guard shouted the news down to the king. The king said, "If he is alone, he is bringing news." The runner came closer and closer.

And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.

NoteOne man running alone means a messenger. A whole crowd running would mean the army had lost and was fleeing.

26Then the guard saw another man running. He called down to the gatekeeper, "Look, another man is running alone!" The king said, "He is bringing news too."

And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.

NoteThe gatekeeper was the man who opened and shut the city gate.

27The guard said, "The first man runs like Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok." The king said, "He is a good man. He is bringing good news."

And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.

28Ahimaaz called out to the king, "All is well!" He bowed down with his face to the ground. He said, "Praise the LORD your God! He has handed over the men who fought against you, my king."

And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the LORD thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.

NoteLying face down on the ground was how people showed great respect to a king.

29The king asked, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me, I saw a lot of noise and rushing about. But I did not know what it was."

And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.

Note"The king's servant" here means the other runner, the man from Cush.

30The king said to him, "Step aside and wait here." So he stepped aside and stood still.

And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.

31Then the man from Cush arrived. He said, "Good news, my king! Today the LORD has saved you from everyone who fought against you."

And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.

32The king asked him, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" The man answered, "May all your enemies end up like that young man. May everyone who wants to hurt you end up like him."

And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.

NoteHe does not say it straight out. He is telling David that Absalom is dead.