34. Your hands were not bound,and your feet were not put into irons.You fell the way one falls before criminals.”All the people wept over him again.
35. Then all the people came and encouraged David to eat food while it was still day. But David took an oath saying, “God will punish me severely if I taste bread or anything whatsoever before the sun sets!”
36. All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people.
37. All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation.
38. Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great leader has fallen this day in Israel?
39. Today I am weak, even though I am anointed as king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too much for me to bear! May the Lord punish appropriately the one who has done this evil thing!”