2 Samuel 3:31-39
Expanded Bible
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, “Tear your clothes and put on ·rough cloth [sackcloth; burlap; C a sign of mourning or distress]. ·Cry […lament; mourn] for Abner.” King David himself followed the ·body of Abner [L bier]. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron, and David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.
33 King David ·sang [chanted; intoned; or composed] this ·funeral song [lament] for Abner.
“·Did [Should] Abner ·die [have died] like a fool?
34 ·His [L Your] hands were not tied.
·His [L Your] feet were not ·in chains [fettered].
·He [L You] fell ·at the hands of [as one falls before] evil men.”
Then all the people cried again for Abner. 35 They came to ·encourage [persuade] David to eat while it was still day. But he made a ·promise [vow], saying, “May God ·punish me terribly [deal severely with me] if I ·eat [taste] bread or anything else before the sun sets!”
36 All the people ·saw what happened [took note], and ·they agreed with what the king was doing [it pleased them; L it was good in their eyes], just as they ·agreed [were pleased] with everything ·he [L the king] did. 37 That day all the ·people of Judah [L people; C likely a reference to the people of Judah] and Israel understood that David ·did not order [had no part in] the killing of Abner son of Ner.
38 David said to his ·officers [L servants], “[L Don’t…?] You know that a [L prince and a] great man died today in Israel. 39 Even though I am the ·appointed [anointed] king, I ·feel empty [am weak/powerless]. These sons of Zeruiah are too ·much [strong; difficult] for me. May the Lord ·give them the punishment they should have [L repay the evildoer as his evil deserves].”
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2 Samuel 3:31-39
New American Standard Bible
David Mourns Abner
31 Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “(A)Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David walked behind the bier. 32 And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king raised his voice and wept at (B)the grave of Abner, and all the people wept. 33 And (C)the king sang a song of mourning for Abner and said,
“Should Abner die as a fool dies?
34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put in bronze shackles;
As one falls before the [a]wicked, you have fallen.”
And all the people wept over him again. 35 Then all the people came (D)to provide [b]food for David in his distress while it was still day; but David vowed, saying, “(E)May God do so to me, and more so, if I taste bread or anything else (F)before the sun goes down.” 36 Now all the people took note of David’s vow, and it [c]pleased them, just as everything that the king did [d]pleased all the people. 37 So all the people and all Israel understood on that day that it had not been the desire of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death. 38 Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not know that a leader and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And I am (G)weak today, though anointed king; and these men, (H)the sons of Zeruiah, are too difficult for me. (I)May the Lord repay the evildoer in proportion to his evil.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Samuel 3:34 Lit sons of wickedness
- 2 Samuel 3:35 Lit bread
- 2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in their eyes
- 2 Samuel 3:36 Lit was good in the eyes of all
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