d 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."
[End illustration]

{447}

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 Cushite, "Go tell the king what thou hast seen."

And the Cushite 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 Cushite."

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 Cushite.

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."