“Hollow Words?”

2 Samuel 3: 31-33; 38: “Tear your clothes and gird on sackcloth and lament before Abner ... and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner ….and the king chanted a lament for Abner ... Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? David had many words of sorrow for Abner; but no words of correction for his own nephews, the sons of his sister Zeruiah, Abner’s killers. Why not, was it the “blood is thicker than water” thing? Maybe, but also remember that Joab had served his uncle since the early days in the stronghold, and loyalty was a very big thing with David.