Bible Strands
2 Samuel 3:31
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David commands Joab and the accompanying people to perform mourning rites for Abner, while David himself follows the funeral bier. This occurs immediately after Joab and Abishai assassinate Abner for killing their brother Asahel.
The words — The text records וַ/יֹּאמֶר (va/i.yo.Mer, "and he said") as David issues his directive to Joab and כָּל\־ הָ/עָ֣ם (kol- ha./'Am, "all the people").
The thread — The commanded tearing of clothes and putting on sackcloth for mourning appears in Genesis 37:34 when Jacob mourns Joseph, while Joshua 7:6 and Judges 11:35 only record tearing clothes without mentioning sackcloth.
Why it lands — The text states David publicly honors a political rival and military leader he has not yet reconciled with, while the surrounding verses record the king and the people weeping at Abner’s tomb. It demands acknowledgment that royal authority and personal grief operate alongside political calculation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Genesis 37:34 Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
- Joshua 7:6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown before the ark of the LORD until evening, as did the elders of Israel; and they all sprinkled dust on their heads.
- Judges 11:35 As soon as Jephthah saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “No! Not my daughter! You have brought me to my knees! You have brought great misery upon me, for I have given my word to the LORD and cannot take it back.”
- 2 Samuel 1:2 On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage.
- 2 Samuel 1:11 Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same.
- Genesis 37:29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,
- 2 Kings 19:1 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and entered the house of the LORD.
- Luke 7:14 Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”