And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?