שמואל ב, פרק י״ח, פסוק ל׳

As news from the battlefield begins to arrive, King David holds back his immediate reaction to the initial report. Seeking a complete understanding of the battle's outcome, he pauses before drawing any conclusions.

The king instructs the first messenger, Ahimaaz, to step aside and wait near him. The primary approach among commentators is that David simply asks him to turn around and stand right by his side. The reason for this delay is that David is waiting for the arrival of the second runner, the Cushite. The king wants to hear exactly what the second messenger has to say and discover what additional news he might be carrying. Following the king's command, Ahimaaz steps to the side and stands waiting alongside David.