^17 (A)Zadok the son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; ^[a]Seraiah was the ^[b]scribe;

²⁴ There was ^(A)Zadok also, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ^(B)ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and ^(C)Abiathar went up until all the people had finished crossing over from the city. ²⁵ Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He ^(D)will bring me back and show me both it and ^(E)His dwelling place. ²⁶ But if He says thus: ‘I have no ^(F)delight in you,’ here I am, ^(G)let Him do to me as seems good to Him.” ²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a ^(H)seer?^[a] Return to the city in peace, and ^(I)your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. ²⁸ See, ^(J)I will wait in the plains of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” ²⁹ Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there.

³⁵ And do you not have Zadok and Abiathar the priests with you there? Therefore it will be that whatever you hear from the king’s house, you shall tell to ^(A)Zadok and Abiathar the priests.

³⁶ Indeed they have there ^(A)with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok’s son, and Jonathan, Abiathar’s son; and by them you shall send me everything you hear.”

David Hears of Absalom’s Death

¹⁹ Then ^(A)Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the Lord has ^[a]avenged him of his enemies.”

²² And Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “But ^[a]whatever happens, please let me also run after the Cushite.”

So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”

²⁷ So the watchman said, ^[a]“I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.”

And the king said, “He is a good man, and comes with ^(A)good news.”

¹¹ So King David sent to ^(A)Zadok and Abiathar the priests, saying, “Speak to the elders of Judah, saying, ‘Why are you the last to bring the king back to his house, since the words of all Israel have come to the king, to his very house?

²⁵ Sheva was scribe; ^(A)Zadok and Abiathar were the priests;