David Mourns for Abner

31 Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

32 When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. 33 And the king sang this lament for Abner:

“Should Abner die

the death of a fool?

34 Your hands were not bound,

your feet were not fettered.

As a man falls before the wicked,

so also you fell.”

And all the people wept over him even more.

35 Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!”

36 All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? 39 And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”