29. Joab and his family are responsible for this, and they will be cursed. Many troubles will come to his family. His people will be sick with leprosy, crippled, killed in war, and not have enough food to eat!”
30. Joab and his brother Abishai killed Abner because Abner had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.
31-32. David said to Joab and to all the people with Joab, “Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth. Cry for Abner.” They buried Abner in Hebron. David went to the funeral. King David and all the people cried at Abner’s grave.
33. King David sang this sad song at Abner’s funeral: “Did Abner die like some foolish criminal?
34. Abner, your hands were not tied. Your feet were not put in chains. No, Abner, evil men killed you!” Then all the people cried again for Abner.
35. All day long people came to encourage David to eat food. But David had made a special promise. He said, “May God punish me and give me many troubles if I eat bread or any other food before the sun goes down.”
36. All the people saw what happened, and they were pleased with what King David had done.