And Jo´ab 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.
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Ab´salom! my son, my son Ab´salom! would God I had died for thee, O Ab´salom, my son, my son!
And the king said, Is the young man Ab´salom safe? And Ahim´a-az answered, When Jo´ab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
And the watchman said, Methinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahim´a-az the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
And the king commanded Jo´ab and Ab´ishai and It´tai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Ab´salom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Ab´salom.