Verse 20

But Joab said to him,“You will not be a bearer of good news today. You will bear good news some other day, but not today, for the king’s son is dead.”

Referenced Verses

• 2 Sam 17:16-21 : 16 Now send word quickly to David and warn him,“Don’t spend the night at the fords of the wilderness tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.” 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying in En Rogel. A female servant would go and inform them, and they would then go and inform King David. It was not advisable for them to be seen going into the city. 18 But a young man saw them on one occasion and informed Absalom. So the two of them quickly departed and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. There was a well in his courtyard, and they got down in it. 19 His wife then took the covering and spread it over the top of the well and scattered some grain over it. No one was aware of what she had done. 20 When the servants of Absalom approached the woman at her home, they asked,“Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman replied to them,“They crossed over the stream.” Absalom’s men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. 21 After the men had left, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed out of the well. Then they left and informed King David. They advised David,“Get up and cross the stream quickly, for Ahithophel has devised a plan to catch you.”
• 2 Sam 18:5 : 5 The king gave this order to Joab, Abishai, and Ittai:“For my sake deal gently with the young man Absalom.” Now the entire army was listening when the king gave all the leaders this order concerning Absalom.
• 2 Sam 18:27 : 27 The watchman said,“It appears to me that the first runner is Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” The king said,“He is a good man, and he comes with good news.”
• 2 Sam 18:29 : 29 The king replied,“How is the young man Absalom?” Ahimaaz replied,“I saw a great deal of confusion when Joab was sending the king’s servant and me, your servant, but I don’t know what it was all about.”
• 2 Sam 18:33 : 33 (19:1) The king then became very upset. He went up to the upper room over the gate and wept. As he went he said,“My son, Absalom! My son, my son, Absalom! If only I could have died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!”