Study Desk

And David said to Joab, and to all the people with him, Tear your garments and gird on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And King David was following after the bier.

And they buried Abner in Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as it were like a fool?

Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As one falls before sons of evil, you have fallen! And all the people wept again over him.

And all the people came to cause David to eat food while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, So may God do to me, and still more, if I taste bread or anything before the sun goes in.

And all the people took notice, and it was good in their eyes. As to all the king did, it was good in the eyes of all the people.

And all the people, even all Israel, knew in that day that it was not from the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

And the king said to his servants, Do you not know that a leader and a great one has fallen this day in Israel?

And I am weak today, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me. May Jehovah reward the doer of evil according to his evil!