David Mourns Abner
31
Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, v "Tear your clothes and w put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.
32
They buried Abner at Hebron. And the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner, and all the people wept.
33
And the king x lamented for Abner, saying,
y "Should Abner die z as a fool dies?
34
Your hands were not bound;
your feet were not fettered;
as one falls before the wicked
you have fallen."
And all the people wept again over him.
35
Then all the people came a to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day. But David swore, saying, b "God do so to me and more also, if I taste bread or anything else c till the sun goes down!"
36
And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them, as everything that the king did pleased all the people.
37
So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it had not been the king's will to put to death Abner the son of Ner.
38
And the king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel?
39
And I was gentle today, though anointed king. d These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. e The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!"
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Cross References
Joshua 7:6
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.
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Cross References
Genesis 37:34
Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.
1 Kings 20:31
And his servants said to him, "Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.
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Cross References
2 Samuel 1:17
And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son.
2 Chronicles 35:25
Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 2:16
For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool!
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Cross References
2 Samuel 13:12 - 13
She answered him, "No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing.
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Cross References
2 Samuel 12:17
And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
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Cross References
Ruth 1:17
Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.
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Cross References
2 Samuel 1:12
And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword.
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Cross References
2 Samuel 16:10
But the king said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, 'Curse David,' who then shall say, 'Why have you done so?'
2 Samuel 19:22
But David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should this day be as an adversary to me? Shall anyone be put to death in Israel this day? For do I not know that I am this day king over Israel?
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Cross References
Psalms 28:4
Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward.
2 Timothy 4:14
Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.