Keraia
2 Samuel 3

2 Samuel 3:31

David Mourns for Abner · 2 Samuel 3:31–39
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Translations

Modern
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.
Traditional
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
Literal
And David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before the face of Abner.” And King David followed after the bier.
Latin
Dixit autem David ad Joab, et ad omnem populum qui erat cum eo: Scindite vestimenta vestra, et accingimini saccis, et plangite ante exequias Abner. Porro rex David sequebatur feretrum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.

Notes

2 Samuel 3:31

King David himself walked: David took part publicly in the mourning procession. He wept openly at the gravesite (2 Samuel 3:32) and later refused to eat as a sign of mourning (2 Samuel 3:35). These actions made it clear to the people that David had not ordered the killing of Abner (2 Samuel 3:37).

2 Samuel 3:1–39

The house of David (David’s family line and those loyal to his rule) grew stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker. A key turning point came when Abner, who held the real political power among Saul’s followers, changed his loyalty to David. When Abner did this, many of his relatives from the northern tribes followed him.

Theme notes and profiles

Abner David Joab

Events

People

Abner: Saul's cousin and commander of his army David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Joab: Son of Zeruiah, commander of David's army

Glossary

Abner Cloth and Cloth Manufacturing David Ishbosheth Joab Mourning Sackcloth Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Abner: Murdered by Joab; David's Sorrow For Bier: (A Coffin) Burial: Attended by Great Lamentation At Burial: Attended by Numbers of Friends Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: Abner Burial: Bier (Coffin) Used At Burial: The Body Was: Carried on a Bier To Chiding: David Chides Joab for Killing Abner Garments: Materials Used for Sackcloth Mourning for Calamities and Other Sorrows: Ripping the Garments Rending: (Ripping, Tearing) of Garments, an Outward Sign of Affliction Sackcloth was Worn: At Funerals Tact in David's Popular Methods in Mourning for Abner The Dead: Mourning For, often: Testified by Tearing the Garments