See II Samuel xviii.

AFTER the great battle in the wood of Ephraim, which resulted in the, complete overthrow of the rebellions followers of Absalom, and in the restoration of the kingdom to David, Cushi and AhImaaz, the son of Zadock, were dispatched to Mahanaim to bear the tidings to the king. And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and 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 saith He also bringeth tidings. And the watchman said, Methinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadock. 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 fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king. And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was. And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and' stood still. And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is. And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber' over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son - Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!"

The affection of David for his children was often most touchingly manifested, as when he mourned for the young child of Bath-Sheba, and for Amnon, whom Absalom slew. Still more pathetic was his lamentation over the death of Absalom, which is here so strikingly pictured.