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. ^(A)These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. ^(B)The Lord repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!”