Part 169 (1/2)

”Leaving Jerusalem by St. Stephen's Gate and walking down the valley of Jehoshaphat, by the dry bed of the Kidron, you meet at length the deep rugged valley of Hinnom, skirting the city in a semi-circular form on the southern and western sides. At the junction of these two valleys stands a low, vaulted stone building--this is the well of En-Rogel.”

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Then said Joab, ”I may not tarry thus with thee.” And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak. And ten young men that bore Joab's armor came up and smote Absalom, and slew him. And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people. And they took Absalom and cast him into the great pit in the forest, and raised over him a very great heap of stones: and all Israel fled everyone to his tent.

Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, ”Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.”

And Joab said to him, ”Thou shalt not be the bearer of 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.”

Then said Joab to the Cus.h.i.+te, ”Go tell the king what thou hast seen.”

And the Cus.h.i.+te bowed himself unto Joab, and ran. Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, ”But come what may, let me, I pray thee, also run after the Cus.h.i.+te.”

And Joab said, ”Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou wilt have no reward for the tidings?”

”But come what may,” said he, ”I will run.”

And he said unto him, ”Run.”

Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cus.h.i.+te.

Now David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate unto the wall, and {448} lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, a man running alone. And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, ”If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth.”

And he came apace, and drew near. And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, ”Behold, another man running alone.”

And the king said, ”He also bringeth tidings.”

And the watchman said, ”I think the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”

And the king said, ”He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.”

And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, ”All is well.”

And he bowed himself before the king with his face to the earth, and said, ”Blessed be the Lord thy G.o.d, who hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.”

And the king said, ”Is it well with the young man Absalom?”

And Ahimaaz answered, ”When Joab sent the king's servant, even me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.”

And the king said, ”Turn aside, and stand here.”

And he turned aside, and stood still. And, behold, the Cus.h.i.+te came; and the Cus.h.i.+te said, ”Tidings for my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.”

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ANCIENT TOMBS NEAR JERUSALEM.