David Mourns for Abner
David commands public mourning, walks behind Abner’s bier, weeps at his tomb, and sings a lament over his needless death. He also refuses food until sunset, and the people are pleased and convinced he had no hand in the murder.
T31hen 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. 32When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. 33And the king sang this lament for Abner: 34Your hands were not bound, 35Then 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!” 36All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 37So 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.
David tells his servants that a great prince has fallen in Israel. He also admits his own weakness, though anointed king, before the fierce sons of Zeruiah and leaves their repayment to the LORD.
38Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? 39And 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!”