From the Death of Saul to the Death of David - Flavius Josephus

Zadok the high priest who came running. So David was very glad, and said
he was a messenger of good tidings, and brought him some such news from
the battle as be desired to hear.
5. While the king was saying thus, Ahimaaz appeared, and worshipped
the king. And when the king inquired of him about the battle, he said he
brought him the good news of victory and dominion. And when he inquired
what he had to say concerning his son, he said that he came away on the
sudden as soon as the enemy was defeated, but that he heard a great noise of
those that pursued Absalom, and that he could learn no more, because of the
haste be made when Joab sent him to inform him of the victory. But when
Cushi was come, and had worshipped him, and informed him of the victory,
he asked him about his son, who replied, "May the like misfortune befall
thine enemies as hath befallen Absalom." That word did not permit either
himself or his soldiers to rejoice for the victory, though it was a very great
one; but David went up to the highest part of the city, (2) and wept for his
son, and beat his breast, tearing [the hair of] his head, tormenting himself all
manner of ways, and crying out, "O my son! I wish that I had died myself,
and ended my days with thee!" for he was of a tender natural affection, and
had extraordinary compassion for this son in particular. But when the army
and Joab heard that the king mourned for his son, they were ashamed to enter
the city in the habit of conquerors, but they all came in as cast down, and in
tears, as if they had been beaten. Now while the king covered himself, and
grievously lamented his son, Joab went in to him, and comforted him, and
said, "O my lord the king, thou art not aware that thou layest a blot on thyself
by what thou now doest; for thou seemest to hate those that love thee, and
undergo dangers for thee nay, to hate thyself and thy family, and to love
those that are thy bitter enemies, and to desire the company of those that are
no more, and who have been justly slain; for had Absalom gotten the victory,
and firmly settled himself in the kingdom, there had been none of us left
alive, but all of us, beginning with thyself and thy children, had miserably
perished, while our enemies had not wept for his, but rejoiced over us, and
57