שמואל ב, פרק י״ח, פסוק כ״ד

During a tense wait for the results of a fateful battle against the army of his son Absalom, David positions himself at the entrance of the city. Meanwhile, a watchman looks out from above to spot anyone approaching from the battlefield. The primary approach among commentators is that the city was protected by a double wall, featuring an inner and an outer barrier with gates facing each other. David sat in the space between these two walls, close to the outside, waiting for news. Beyond the physical setting, this location reflects David's inner turmoil. He was filled with worry and sadness from all directions, effectively trapped between two tragic possibilities. If his army won, his son Absalom might die, but if Absalom's army won, the grief would be even heavier [חומת אנך].

To get a clear view into the distance, the watchman climbed to the area directly above the gate [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He then walked specifically toward the side of the wall. This movement was necessary because an approaching runner was not coming down the direct path facing the gate, but from a different angle facing the wall, forcing the watchman to shift his position to see him [מלבי״ם].

Looking out, the watchman spots a single man running alone, whose identity is not yet clear [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The fact that the man is running by himself is highly significant. It clearly indicates that he is a messenger arriving to report the battle's outcome. If a large group of men were seen running together, it would mean that soldiers were fleeing the battlefield for their lives. A lone runner, however, proves that he is arriving with fresh news to deliver [אברבנאל].