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 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 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 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 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.