Berean Standard Bible
2 Samuel 2:26
26Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”
2 Samuel 2:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
- New International Version (NIV)Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then Abner called to Joab, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”
Context of 2 Samuel 2:26
24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” 27“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” 28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.
Read all of 2 Samuel 22 Samuel 2:26 word by word
וַיִּקְרָ֨א אַבְנֵ֜ר אֶל־יוֹאָ֗ב וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הֲלָנֶ֙צַח֙ תֹּ֣אכַל חֶ֔רֶב הֲל֣וֹא יָדַ֔עְתָּה כִּֽי־מָרָ֥ה תִהְיֶ֖ה בָּאַחֲרוֹנָ֑ה וְעַד־מָתַי֙ לֹֽא־תֹאמַ֣ר לָעָ֔ם לָשׁ֖וּב מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י אֲחֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
- Then Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- called outקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
- toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
- Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- ·אָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Must the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- devour foreverאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- devour foreverנֵ֫צַחnetsach nêtsach · perpetuityH5331
- Do you notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
- realizeיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- thatכִּיkîy · forH3588
- this will only endאַחֲרוֹן'achăryôn 'achărôn · lastH314
- in bitternessמַרmar mârâh · bitterH4751
- in bitternessהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
- How longעַד‛ad · tillH5704
- How longמָתַיmâthay · howH4970
- the troopsעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- to stopשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
- pursuingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- their brothersאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:26
- 2 Samuel 2:14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
- Acts 7:26The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’
- 2 Samuel 11:25Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
- Isaiah 1:20But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
- Jeremiah 2:30“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
- Jeremiah 12:12Over all the barren heights in the wilderness the destroyers have come, for the sword of the LORD devours from one end of the earth to the other. No flesh has peace.
- Jeremiah 46:10For that day belongs to the Lord GOD of Hosts, a day of vengeance against His foes. The sword will devour until it is satisfied, until it is quenched with their blood. For the Lord GOD of Hosts will hold a sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.
- Hosea 11:6A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
- 2 Samuel 2:16Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim.
- Proverbs 17:14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- Job 18:2“How long until you end these speeches? Show some sense, and then we can talk.
- Job 19:2“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
- Psalms 4:2How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? How long will you love vanity and seek after lies? Selah
- Jeremiah 4:21How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the horn?
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2:26
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-32Verses 25-32 Abner appeals to Joab concerning the miserable consequences of a civil war. Those who make light of such unnatural contests, will find that they are bitterness to all concerned. How easy it is for men to use reason, when it makes for them, who would not use it, if it made against them! See how the issue of things alter men's minds! The same thing which looked pleasant in the morning, at night looked dismal. Those who are most forward to enter…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26this will only end in bitterness: Realizing that such wars go on generation after generation, Abner wisely negotiated a truce.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-3219-32. Asahel pursued after Abner--To gain the general's armor was deemed the grandest trophy. Asahel, ambitious of securing Abner's, had outstripped all other pursuers, and was fast gaining on the retreating commander. Abner, conscious of possessing more physical power, and unwilling that there should be "blood" between himself and Joab, Asahel's brother, twice urged him to desist. The impetuous young soldier being deaf to the generous remonstrance, the…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Samuel 2:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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