^{33 Ref} And the king lamented for Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?

^{34 Ref} Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall. And all the people wept again over him.

^{35 Ref} And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David sware, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or aught else, till the sun be down.

^{36 Ref} And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.

³⁷ So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

^{38 Ref} And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?