Messengers of the King

Based on 2 Samuel 17:17-21

 

 

    "Where are they?" Jonathan said impatiently. "They should be here by now."

 

    "Just be patient," Ahimaaz replied. "Father said they would send a messenger, who would tell us which counsel Absalom took. Then we go." He rolled his eyes. Jonathan was always impatient.

 

     The two men were staying at Enrogel. They couldn't be seen coming into Jerusalem, so they waited there for the message they were to take back to the king.

 

     "Psst!" They both heard the sound. They turned, and saw a young girl near the corner. She beckoned them to come. "Greetings," she began, "Jonathan, son of Abiathar, and Ahimaaz, son of Zadok."

 

     "You know who we are?" Jonathon asked.

 

     "And your purpose here in Enrogel. Come—these matters aren't for marketplace discussion." They went into an alleyway where no one was in sight, and she told them everything she'd been given to say.

 

     "This is Absalom's plan, then? We are to tell King David these very words?"

 

     "Yes sir."

 

     "Then we must be quick. But I'm curious as to who you are."

 

     "A servant in the house where Zadok and Abiathar the priests stay. I'm loyal to King David, so when the priests asked me to help, I was only too happy to do so. Now you must hurry, sirs!" And they started off for King David's camp, failing to notice a lad peeking round the corner as they left.

 

 

     "How close are we to the camp?" Jonathon asked. They were on a little hill topped with a clump of trees.

 

     "We're near Bahurim, so fairly close." Ahimaaz paused. "Jonathon, we should stop in these woods."

 

     "Why? You just said we were close. We—hey!" Ahimaaz pulled Jonathon into the trees.

 

     "Listen, Jonathon. We're being followed."

 

     "What?"

 

     "Yes. Look, there. On top of that hill."

 

     "Those are soldiers!"

 

     "Someone must have overheard us in Enrogel and told Absalom."

 

     "There aren't that many. We can outrun them."

 

     "But what if one does manage to follow us back to King David's camp? He might tell Absalom the King's whereabouts, or even try to kill the King! No, we can't go straight there. We have to lead them away from the camp."

 

     "Alright then, Ahimaaz," Jonathon said. "King David's camp's at Jordan, and that's nowhere in sight. Let's run that way, towards the village. That should be good for our purpose."

 

     "Let's hurry and get away from here!"

 

 

     The two men ran down the hill into the village of Bahurim. They were fast, but far outnumbered. Ahimaaz and Jonathon ran down an alley, trying to evade the soldiers. They stopped suddenly, as two soldiers walked past the alley.

 

     "This can't go on!" Jonathon whispered. "If we don't find a place to hide from these soldiers, we're sure to get caught, and King David won't get the message!"

 

     "I know, I know..."

 

     "But where can we go?"

 

     "Umm... there. See that house with the well in the courtyard?"

 

     "Yes. Let's hurry!" The pair ran across the street into the court, where a woman supervised servants moving sacks. They looked up in surprise at the strangers.

 

     "What's going on here?" the woman asked.

 

     "We are messengers for the King."

 

     "We're being followed by Absalom's soldiers, ma'am," Jonathon explained. "We need help."

 

     "My husband's away on business, but if he were here, he'd tell you we'll do anything for the King."

 

     "We need somewhere to hide, and quickly!" Ahimaaz said.

 

     "I know just the place!"

 

 

     Jonathon and Ahimaaz climbed down the courtyard well. They stepped into the water and stayed very still. The woman spread a covering over the well, took some ground corn from a sack, and spread it on top. Minutes passed. The soldiers came into the courtyard. The King's messengers hardly dared to breathe, listening to their enemies walking around, searching for them.

 

     "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathon?"

 

     "Who?" the woman asked, pretending not to know. "You mean, those two men that came in here a while ago? Ah, they be gone over the brook of water."

 

     "You're certain?"

 

     "Course I am. They told me so themselves. You'd best be off if you want to catch them." Jonathon and Ahimaaz listened as the soldiers departed, waited a few moments, then came up out of the well.

 

     "When those soldiers don't find you, they'll go right back where they came from."

 

     "We'd best be off, then." The two thanked the woman for her help, and left for David's camp. They got there before nightfall, and told David Absalom's plan. The King and his followers arose and passed quickly over the water. Thus the King avoided death at the hands of Absalom, and his promised kingship was preserved by God, through the hands of Ahimaaz and Jonathon, messengers of the King.