Ahimaaz
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(brother of anger) — the name of three persons: a) (1 Sam. 14:50) father of Ahinoam, wife of King Saul; b) (2 Sam. 15:36; 17:17–20) son and successor of Zadok the high priest. During Absalom’s rebellion, Zadok and Abiathar, another priest, stationed themselves in Jerusalem together with Hushai, David’s friend, while Ahimaaz and another young man, Jonathan, son of Abiathar, stationed themselves at En-rogel, near the city, and agreed among themselves that whatever Hushai heard concerning Absalom’s plan, he would report it to Zadok and Abiathar, who would tell their sons Ahimaaz and Jonathan, through whom the news would reach David.
When Absalom rejected Ahithophel’s counsel and accepted Hushai’s counsel, Zadok and Abiathar were immediately informed of this, as a result of which they arranged, with all possible speed, to send this news to David. But perhaps to avoid suspicion, the message was sent by a woman alone. This handoff was seen by a young man, who at once set out and informed Absalom of it. Ahimaaz and his companion nevertheless set out on their way, and when they arrived at Bahurim, whose location is now unknown, they hid in a well to avoid being observed by their pursuers.
The woman of the house near which they hid covered the mouth of the well with a covering and spread grain over it, so that nothing was noticeable, and when Absalom’s messengers approached this place and asked where Ahimaaz and Jonathan were, she deceived them, saying that the young men had hurried on and crossed the river at the ford. Thus they escaped danger, and while their pursuers returned to Jerusalem, they hastened to David with their news. At his earnest request, Ahimaaz was authorized to bring David news of Absalom’s death, his father’s.
He got ahead of Hushai [Cushi, as given], who had been sent earlier with the same news; but before he could deliver the news, Hushai [Cushi] ran up and told of the sad event. According to Josephus, Ahimaaz afterward became high priest, which is also indicated in 1 Chronicles (6:8, 15 [as given]).