2 Samuel 3:31

3:31 David instructed Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes! Put on sackcloth! Lament before Abner!” Now King David followed ¹  behind the funeral bier.

2 Samuel 3:1

3:1 However, the war was prolonged between the house of Saul and the house of David. David was becoming steadily stronger, while the house of Saul was becoming increasingly weaker.

1 Raja-raja 20:31

20:31 His advisers ²  said to him, “Look, we have heard that the kings of the Israelite dynasty are kind. ³  Allow us to put sackcloth around our waists and ropes on our heads ⁴  and surrender ⁵  to the king of Israel. Maybe he will spare our lives.”

[3:31]  ¹ tn Heb “was walking.”

[20:31]  ² tn Or “servants.”

[20:31]  ³ tn Or “merciful.” The word used here often means “devoted” or “loyal.” Perhaps the idea is that the Israelite kings are willing to make treaties with other kings.

[20:31]  ⁴ sn Sackcloth was worn as a sign of sorrow and repentance. The precise significance of the ropes on the head is uncertain, but it probably was a sign of submission. These actions were comparable to raising a white flag on the battlefield or throwing in the towel in a boxing match.

[20:31]  ⁵ tn Heb “go out.”