Absalom lay dead, and buried. His army scattered, his rebellion shattered. But David was back at the base, waiting to hear the news and fretting for his son.
The news of the victory, and Absalom’s death, needed to be brought to David. Ahimaaz the son of Zadok was keen to bring the news to David (v.19), but Joab refused given that David’s son had died that day (v.20). Instead, Joab had a Cushite run to bring the news (v.21). Ahimaaz persisted in desiring to run back, even if he did not get the glory of bearing the “good news”, and so Joab gave in (vv.22-3). Thus two runners competed for the “glory”.
Whether due to local knowledge or some other reason, Ahimaaz outpaced the Cushite. Meanwhile, David was sitting fretting at the city gates, waiting for news of victory (v.24). Of course, David also seemed to want the contradictory situation of Absalom’s survival…
A watchman spotted the approaching courier, and relayed the news to David (v.24). David replied that a single runner was good news (multiple runners would imply the first to flee from a rout), but when the watchman announced the second runner David had to work harder to convince himself the news was good (vv.25-6).
Thankfully the watchman recognised the apparently distinctive gait of Ahimaaz, which reassured David because “he is a good man and comes with good news” (v.27). Ahimaaz cried out “all is well” as he neared the king to catch his breath (v.28). Then he announced his news. “Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king” (v.28).
This was good news, but not all the news David wanted to hear (cf. v.5). When David asked about Absalom, Ahimaaz fluffed his answer suggesting a great commotion rather than delivering the bad news (v.29).
At David’s command Ahimaaz stood aside while the earlier leaving Cushite arrived (v.30). Again the same message and response played out; good news for the king, but how is Absalom? (vv.31-2). The Cushite though was willing to give the bad news that David did not want to hear. “May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man” (v.32).
The implication was clear, Absalom was dead. It could be no other way, for God willed it (17:14). But David was heartbroken, and fled to his chamber to weep for his lost son (v.33).
Not the right response to a resounding victory, but in some ways understandable for a man dealing with grief driven by a sense of guilt. Absalom’s rebellion and death were the consequences of David’s own sinful acts with Bathsheba. Whatever Absalom’s contribution to his death, David would have felt that he set the train in motion.
So David wept and mourned, and Joab and the army’s great victory turned to one of sadness (9:1-2). Victory seemed like a defeat, as the army snuck back into town for fear of upsetting David even more (vv.3-4).
If David was to maintain the kingdom which Joab had secured for him by disobeying orders and dispatching Absalom, then things had to change. So Joab confronted David with some more tough news.
Joab reminded David that his actions made his army, and his loyal servants look like they had acted shamefully in defying and defeating Absalom, as if David would have preferred them dead and Absalom alive! (vv.5-6). If he did not start acting grateful, he would have a worse rebellion on his hands in short order (v.7).
So David listened to Joab and got up, went to the gate, and thanked the troops for their acts on his behalf (v.8). Mourning could come later.
David as king was more than a father, he was a symbol. The Davidic king demonstrated God’s provision of godly leadership to his people, pointing forward to an even greater leader to come. That greater leader would decisively defeat sin, and one day will decisively crush all rebellion under his feet (Rev. 19).
These words are good news to us, because they announce our salvation, and our deliverance from both sin and death, but also one day from all earthly opposition and persecution. But these words are also tough news for us, because it means there are plenty who will not heed the call to repent before it is too late, and will suffer the ultimate penalty at God’s hands as he executes judgement. Some of those are people we love.
Of course, David bore his own grief and sorrow over his own sins. Christ, David’s true and greater son, bore our griefs and sorrow over our sin through his life and on the Cross for us. He did so in order that those griefs and sorrows could one day be lifted from us, and free us from the burden they bear. And so one day, God can wipe away every mournful tear.
