Then allthe peoplecameto persuade Davidto eatbreadwhile it was stillday;but Davidvowed,saying,"May Goddosoto me, and morealso,ifI tastebreadoranythingelsebeforethe sungoesdown."
They mournedand weptand fasteduntileveningfor Sauland his sonJonathanand for the peopleof the LORDand the houseof Israel,becausethey had fallenby the sword.
The eldersof his householdstoodbesidehim in order to raisehim up from the ground,but he was unwillingand would not eatfoodwith them.
"Your handswere not bound,noryour feetputin fetters;As one fallsbeforethe wicked,you have fallen."And allthe peopleweptagainoverhim.
Now allthe peopletooknote[of it], and it pleasedthem, just as everythingthe kingdidpleasedallthe people.
"May Goddosoto Abner,and morealso,ifas the LORDhas swornto David,I do not accomplishthisfor him,
allthe valiantmenaroseand tookaway the bodyof Sauland the bodiesof his sonsand broughtthem to Jabesh,and they buriedtheir bonesunderthe oakin Jabesh,and fastedsevendays.
"Men will not break[bread] in mourningfor them, to comfortanyone for the dead,norgivethem a cupof consolationto drinkfor anyone's fatheror mother.
"Groansilently;makenomourningfor the dead.Bindon your turbanand putyour shoeson your feet,and do not cover[your] mustacheand do not eatthe breadof men."
You will doas I have done;you will not cover[your] mustacheand you will not eatthe breadof men.
The sonsof Israelwentup and weptbeforethe LORDuntilevening,and inquiredof the LORD,saying,"Shall we againdrawnearfor battleagainstthe sonsof my brotherBenjamin?"And the LORDsaid,"Goup againsthim."
Then allthe sonsof Israeland allthe peoplewentup and cameto Betheland wept;thus they remainedtherebeforethe LORDand fastedthat dayuntilevening.And they offeredburntofferingsand peaceofferingsbeforethe LORD.
"Whereyou die,I will die,and thereI will be buried.Thusmay the LORDdoto me, and worse,if[anything but] deathpartsyou and me."
He said,"Whatis the wordthat He spoketo you? Pleasedo not hideit from me. May Goddosoto you, and morealso,ifyou hideanythingfrom me of allthe wordsthat He spoketo you."
