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.
The watchman called out and told the king what he saw. The king said, 'If he's running alone, he must have news to share.' The messenger kept running fast and got closer.
The king is waiting anxiously for news, recognizing that a lone runner usually means he's carrying an important message.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during the aftermath of the battle between David's forces and his rebellious son Absalom's army. David had stayed behind in the city while his commanders led the troops, and he was anxiously waiting for news about the outcome of the battle and his son's fate. In ancient times, lone messengers running at full speed typically carried urgent battlefield reports to waiting kings.
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