Bearing the Bad News
After Absalom’s death, Ahimaaz asked Joab’s permission to carry to King David what he thought was good news, “how that the LORD hath avenged him of his enemies” (2Sa 18:19). Apparently Ahimaaz was recognized as a good-news messenger, as the king later said, “He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings” (v27). so Joab, knowing the king would receive the message as bad news, told Ahimaaz, “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.” Joab then sent Cushi to bear the tidings.
