2 Samuel 18:23

23 "Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.

2 Samuel 18:23 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 18:23

But howsoever ([said he]) let me run
Be it as it may, I beg I may have leave; and being so very importunate, it was granted:

and he said unto him, run;
since he would take no denial:

then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi;
who ran by the way of the mountains; which though the shorter way, that through the plain was easiest, and soonest run, though the longest.

2 Samuel 18:23 In-Context

21 Then Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed before Joab, and ran.
22 Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite." And Joab said, "Why will you run, my son, seeing that you have no reward for the tidings?"
23 "Come what may," he said, "I will run." So he said to him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the Plain, and outran the Cushite.
24 Now David was sitting between the two gates. The sentinel went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he looked up, he saw a man running alone.
25 The sentinel shouted and told the king. The king said, "If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth." He kept coming, and drew near.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.