2 Samuel 3:28-39 ▼

28 And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner;

29 Let it rest on the head of Joab and on the head of all his father's house; and let there never fail to be in the house of Joab one who has a discharge or who is a leper or who is a beggar holding a bowl or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread.

30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner because he had slain their brother Ashael at Gibeon in the battle.

31 And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, Rend your clothes and gird yourselves with sackcloth and mourn for Abner. And King David himself and all the people followed the bier.

32 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.

33 And the king lamented over Abner and said, Abner died like Nabal.

34 Your hands were not bound nor were your feet put into fetters; as one falls before the wicked men, so have you fallen. And all the people wept again over him.

35 And all the people tried to persuade David to eat food while it was still day, but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else till the sun goes down.

36 And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; whatever the king did pleased all the people;

37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that the king had no hand in the slaying of Abner, the son of Ner.

38 And the king said to the people, Do you not know that there is a great prince fallen this day in Israel?

39 And I am this day troubled, and as king I see that the sons of Zoriah are too hard for me; the LORD shall reward the evil doer according to his wickedness.