2 Samuel 18:19-33--David Hears of Absalom's Death

2 Samuel 18:19-33
English Standard Version

David Hears of Absalom's Death
19 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run and carry news to the king that the LORD has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.” 20 And Joab said to him, “You are not to carry news today. You may carry news another day, but today you shall carry no news, because the king's son is dead.” 21 Then Joab said to the Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran. 22 Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?” 23 “Come what may,” he said, “I will run.” So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

24 Now David was sitting between the two gates, and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone. 25 The watchman called out and told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is news in his mouth.” And he drew nearer and nearer. 26 The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.” 27 The watchman said, “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man and comes with good news.”

28 Then Ahimaaz cried out to the king, “All is well.” And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said, “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king.” 29 And the king said, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz answered, “When Joab sent the king's servant, your servant, I saw a great commotion, but I do not know what it was.” 30 And the king said, “Turn aside and stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.

David's Grief
31 And behold, the Cushite came, and the Cushite said, “Good news for my lord the king! For the LORD has delivered you this day from the hand of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” And the Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.” 33  And the king was deeply moved and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

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Last time we saw Joab murder Absalom even though David had told his commanders and his men to deal gently with Absalom for his sake.  David is now going to hear first about their military victory and then secondly about the death of his son.  The messenger both think they have good news for the king, but the news brought by the second messenger breaks David's heart and takes away any joy that he felt at the first news. 

David went into his chamber over the gate and wept, wishing that he had died instead of his son Absalom.  This is now his second son that he has lost, and it felt both times that a piece of David's heart was taken.  I wouldn't say that David would get a gold star for his parenting of his children (it's always hard to focus on your children at the same time you are governing even a small group of people as the burdens of those you govern become your own, but David loved his family very much whether they realized it or not.)  One of the things that will probably hurt the most here is that David lost so many years with Absalom because he failed to reconcile with him after what happened with Tamar and David tried to hide that event instead of take responsibility for it.  David could have sought justice in that situation, but instead he pushed Tamar and Absalom away.  Now Absalom is gone and David will never have that relationship with his son that he wanted.  All this because Joab wouldn't obey David's orders and wanted to take vengeance himself in the name of "justice."  We'll see David deal with Joab next time.  What should have been a time of great celebration for the great victory was overshadowed by the whole nation mourning the death of Absalom (for when the king mourned, everyone else mourned with him).