Illustration created for this project.
Ahimaaz
A son of Zadok, a swift runner who carried news of the battle to David.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 3
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Levi.
2 Samuel 18:23
Life, role & deeds
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus retells the episode of Ahimaaz son of Zadok the priest running ahead of the Cushite to bring David word of the battle against Absalom, closely following the biblical account.
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 7.245-250.
Name & titles
ScholarlyThe Hebrew name Ahimaaz ('Ăḥîma'aṣ) opens with 'aḥî, "my brother," a kinship element extremely common in West Semitic personal names; the second element is uncertain and is often connected to a root meaning "anger" or "wrath."
Standard onomastic analysis in Hebrew lexica (BDB, HALOT) of the 'aḥ- "brother" name-type.
Where in scripture
2 SamuelFamily
In their own words — 5 recorded sayings
“Then after the servants had gone away, they came up out of the water-hole and went to give King David the news; and they said, Get up and go quickly over the water, for such and such are Ahithophel's designs against you.” — 2 Samuel 17:21
“Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, Let me go and give the king news of how the Lord has done right in his cause against those who took up arms against him.” — 2 Samuel 18:19
“Whatever may come of it, he said, I will go. Then he said to him, Go. So Ahimaaz went running by the lowland road and overtook the Cushite.” — 2 Samuel 18:23
“And Ahimaaz, crying out to the king, said, It is well. And falling down before the king, with his face to the earth, he said, May the Lord your God be praised, who has given up the men who took up arms against my lord the king!” — 2 Samuel 18:28
“And the king said, Is it well with the young man Absalom? And Ahimaaz said in answer, When Joab sent me, your servant, I saw a great outcry going on, but I had no knowledge of what it was.” — 2 Samuel 18:29
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).