David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, ‘Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn over Abner.’ And King David walked behind the coffin.
When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, ‘No! Not my daughter! You have devastated me! You have brought great misery on me. I have given my word to the Lord and cannot take it back.’
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.
His servants said to him, ‘Consider this: we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. So let’s put sackcloth round our waists and ropes round our heads, and let’s go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life.’
He sent Eliakim, who was in charge of the palace, Shebna the court secretary, and the leading priests, who were covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz.