2 Samuel 18:20

And Joab said unto him, 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.

Cross-reference

In 2 Samuel 18:5, David commands gentleness toward Absalom — contrasting with Joab's killing of Absalom that prevents Ahimaaz from carrying news.

In 2 Samuel 18:27, the watchman identifies Ahimaaz by his running, showing he ran despite Joab's prohibition—his news was not what David expected.

In 2 Samuel 18:29, Ahimaaz evades David's question about Absalom, validating Joab's warning that he had no fitting news for the day.

In 2 Samuel 18:33, David's anguished lament over Absalom reveals why Joab considered the news too heavy for Ahimaaz to carry.

In 2 Samuel 19:1, Joab learns the king is mourning, confirming the day's news was a cause for grief, not reward.