Berean Standard Bible
2 Samuel 2:27
27“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”
2 Samuel 2:27 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
- New International Version (NIV)Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And Joab said, "As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”
Context of 2 Samuel 2:27
25The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. 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?” “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. 29And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.
Read all of 2 Samuel 22 Samuel 2:27 word by word
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יוֹאָ֔ב חַ֚י הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים כִּ֥י לוּלֵ֖א דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ כִּ֣י אָ֤ז מֵֽהַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ נַעֲלָ֣ה הָעָ֔ם אִ֖ישׁ מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י אָחִֽיו׃Read the interlinear
- As surely as Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- livesחַיchay · aliveH2416
- Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- repliedאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- if you had notכִּיkîy · forH3588
- if you had notלוּלֵאlûlê' lûlêy · unlessH3884
- spoken upדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- spoken upאָז'âz · thenH227
- the troopsעַם‛am · people: soldiersH5971
- the troopsאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- would have continuedעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- pursuingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- their brothersאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
- until morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:27
- 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.
- 1 Samuel 25:26Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.
- Job 27:2“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice— the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—
- Proverbs 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Proverbs 17:14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- Proverbs 20:18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
- Proverbs 25:8do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
- Isaiah 47:7You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.
- Luke 14:31Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
Commentaries on 2 Samuel 2:27
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 27And Joab said - The meaning of this verse appears to be this: If Abner had not provoked the battle, (see 2 Samuel 2:14;), Joab would not have attacked the Israelites that day; as his orders were probably to act on the defensive. Therefore the blame fell upon Israel.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27Joab‘s speech means either “unless thou hadst spoken (challenged us to fight, 2 Samuel 2:14), the people would have returned from the pursuit of their brethren (many hours ago, even) this morning;” or, “If thou hadst not spoken (asked for peace, 2 Samuel 2:26), surely the people would have returned, etc., in the morning, i. e. would not have ceased the pursuit until the morning.” The latter interpretation is the more accordant with Joab‘s boastful…Read the comment
- 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. 12-32A long civil war followed between Judah, led by David, and the northern tribes, led by Saul’s family. These events led directly to the murder of Abner (2 Samuel 3:22–39).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 2:27
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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