not procured by his command or approbation. He also wished
the heaviest curses might light upon him that slew him and upon his
whole house; and he devoted those that had assisted him in this murder
to the same penalties on its account; for he took care not to appear
to have had any hand in this murder, contrary to the assurances he had
given and the oaths he had taken to Abner. However, he commanded all the
people to weep and lament this man, and to honor his dead body with the
usual solemnities; that is, by rending their garments, and putting on
sackcloth, and that things should be the habit in which they should go
before the bier; after which he followed it himself, with the elders and
those that were rulers, lamenting Abner, and by his tears demonstrating
his good-will to him while he was alive, and his sorrow for him now he
was dead, and that he was not taken off with his consent. So he buried
him at Hebron in a magnificent manner, and indited funeral elegies for
him; he also stood first over the monument weeping, and caused others
to do the same; nay, so deeply did the death of Abner disorder him,
that his companions could by no means force him to take any food, but he
affirmed with an oath that he would taste nothing till the sun was set.
This procedure gained him the good-will of the multitude; for such as
had an affection for Abner were mightily satisfied with the respect
he paid him when he was dead, and the observation of that faith he had
plighted to him, which was shown in his vouchsafing him all the usual
ceremonies, as if he had been his kinsman and his friend, and not
suffering him to be neglected and injured with a dishonorable burial,
as if he had been his enemy; insomuch that the entire nation rejoiced at
the king's gentleness and mildness of disposition, every one being ready
to suppose that the king would have taken the same care of them in the
like circumstances, which they saw be showed in the burial of the dead
body of Abner. And indeed David principally intended to gain a good
reputation, and therefore he took care to do what was proper in this
case, whence none had any suspicion that he was the author of Abner's
death. He also said this to the multitude, that he was greatly troubled
at the death of so good a man; and that the affairs of the Hebrews had
suffered great detriment by being deprived of him, who was of so great
abilities to preserve them by his excellent advice, and by the strength
of