35. Then they came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David took an oath: “May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset! ”
36. All the people took note of this, and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased them.
37. On that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the killing of Abner son of Ner.
38. Then the king said to his soldiers, “You must know that a great leader has fallen in Israel today.
39. As for me, even though I am the anointed king, I have little power today. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil! ”