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 zLet it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not †fail from the house of Joab one athat hath an issue, or bthat is a leper, or that leaneth on ca staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread. 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother dAsahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, eRend your clothes, and fgird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself 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 glamented over Abner, and said,

Died Abner as a hfool dieth?

34  Thy hands were not bound,

Nor thy feet put into fetters:

As a man falleth before †wicked men, so fellest thou.

And all the people wept again over him. 35 And when all the people came ito cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, jSo do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, ktill the sun be down. 36 And all the people took notice of it, and it †pleased them: as whatsoever the king did †pleased all the people. 37 For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.