AHIMAAZ (a-hIm'a-az), (Hcb..)%r;r'N., brother of anger, i.e., irascible), son and successor of Zadok. who was joint high priest in the reign of David, and sole high priest in that of Solomon. His history chiefly belongs to the time of David, to whom he rendered an important service during the revolt of Absalom. David hav ing refused to allow the ark of God to be taken from Jerusalem when he fled thence, the high priests, Zadok and Abiathar, necessarily remained in attendance upon it ; but their sons, Ahimaaz and Jonathan, concealed themselves outside the city, to be in readiness to bear off to David any important information respecting the movements and designs of Absalom which they might receive from within. Accordingly, Hushai having com municated to the priests the result of the council of war, in which his own advice was preferred to that of Ahithophel ( see ABSALOM ), they instantly sent a girl (probably to avoid suspicion) to direct Ahimaaz and Jonathan to speed away with the in telligence. The transaction, however, was wit nessed and betrayed by a lad, and the messengers were so hotly pursued that they took refuge in a dry well, over which the woman of the house placed a covering, and spread thereon parched corn. She told the pursuers that the messengers
had passed on in haste : and when all was safe. she released them, on which they made their way to David (2 Sam. xv :27-36; xvii :17-20). As may be inferred from his being chosen for this service, Ahimaaz was swift of foot. Of this we have a no table example soon after, when, on the defeat and death of Absalom, he prevailed on Joab to allow him to carry the tidings to David. Another mes senger. Cushi, had previously been dispatched. but Ahimaaz outstripped him, and first came in with the news. He was known afar off by the manner of his running, and the king said. 'Fie is a good man, and cometh with good tidings ;' and this favorable character is iustified by the delicacy with which he waived that part of his intelligence concerning the death of Absalom, which he knew %%mild greatly distress so fond a father as David (2 Sam. xviii 09-29).