Day 100 – 2 Samuel 3:31-39

Scripture Review

2 Samuel 3:31-39

"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."

(2 Samuel 3:31)

David makes Joab mourn. The very man who murdered Abner must now rend his clothes, put on sackcloth, and walk in public grief before Abner's body. "And king David himself followed the bier." David follows the body himself. He is showing Israel that Abner did not die by the king's order.

"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."

(2 Samuel 3:32)

Abner is buried in Hebron. Hebron was David's city at this stage, the place where David had been anointed king over Judah. Abner is buried in the city of David's reign.

"The king lifted up his voice, and wept." David weeps out loud at the grave. The people hear the grief in his voice, and "all the people wept." His sorrow moved the nation.

"And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?"

(2 Samuel 3:33)

David asks, "Died Abner as a fool dieth?" He is not saying Abner was a fool in character or position. He is saying Abner died needlessly and foolishly, not because he lacked strength, but because he failed to escape danger when opportunity was near.

"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."

(2 Samuel 3:34)

Abner did not die like a prisoner. His hands were not bound. His feet were not in fetters. He was not dragged helplessly to execution. He was free, and yet he fell. "As a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou." David calls Joab's deed wicked without naming him in the poem. He is not softening the sin. He is not letting Abner's death be classified as an unfortunate accident or normal wartime revenge. He says plainly that Abner fell before wicked men. "And all the people wept again over him." Honest words brought fresh tears. Sometimes people cannot fully grieve until the truth is spoken plainly.

"And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down."

(2 Samuel 3:35)

The people try to get David to eat while it is still day. They see the king mourning and want him strengthened. But David refuses. He swears he will not taste bread or anything else until the sun goes down. This is fasting tied to grief. David will not comfort his body while the matter is still fresh before God and the people.

"And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people."

(2 Samuel 3:36)

"All the people took notice of it." David's conduct was watched. His mourning, his fasting, his tears, his procession behind the bier, all of it became testimony. "And it pleased them." Not because the day was pleasant, but because David's actions were right. The people could see integrity. They could tell the king's sorrow had weight.

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

(2 Samuel 3:37)

This is the purpose of the public mourning. "All the people and all Israel understood that day." David's name was cleared. They understood Abner's murder was not from David.

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

(2 Samuel 3:38)

David calls Abner "a prince and a great man." That is generous, especially from David. Abner had opposed him. Abner had supported Ishbosheth. Abner had helped delay the full kingdom. Yet David still gives honor where honor is due.

"And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness."

(2 Samuel 3:39)

David is anointed, but he is not pretending to be untouchable. "I am this day weak, though anointed king." He is king, but he still feels the strain of men like Joab and Abishai. The sons of Zeruiah are "too hard" for him. They are fierce, useful, dangerous, and difficult to restrain. David recognizes his present limitation. Then David says, "the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness." He leaves the final accounting with God. That is faith speaking from weakness. David cannot fully deal with Joab that day, but he knows the LORD can.

Being right does not mean having immediate power to fix every wrong. A heart after God admits its weakness, refuses to cover evil, and trusts the LORD to reward wickedness in His own time. David mourned openly. David fasted sincerely. David honored Abner honestly. David cleared his kingdom publicly. And David placed final judgment in the hands of the LORD.