between these David sat, waiting for news of the battle: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall; the gate to the outward wall, over which was a tower, and on that a flat roof; to which the watchman went to observe if he could see an express coming; no doubt by David's orders: and lifted up his eyes and looked; that is, very diligently and wistfully: and, behold, a man running alone: which made him the more observable, and was the more likely to be a messenger.