English Standard Version
2 Samuel 2:26
26Then 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?"
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?”
- 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?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?”
Context of 2 Samuel 2:26
24But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. 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?" 27And 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." 28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.
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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Then Abnerאֲבִינֵר'abnêr 'ăbîynêr · AbnerH74
- calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
- to Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Shall the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
- devourאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- for everנֵ֫צַחnetsach nêtsach · perpetuityH5331
- knowestיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- thou not that it will be bitternessמַרmar mârâh · bitterH4751
- in the latter endאַחֲרוֹן'achăryôn 'achărôn · lastH314
- the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- returnשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
- from followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- their brethrenאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:26
- 2 Samuel 2:14And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
- Acts 7:26And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?'
- 2 Samuel 11:25David said to the messenger, "Thus shall you say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter displease you, for the sword devours now one and now another. Strengthen your attack against the city and overthrow it.' And encourage him."
- Isaiah 1:20but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."
- Jeremiah 2:30In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion.
- Jeremiah 12:12Upon all the bare heights in the desert destroyers have come, for the sword of the Lord devours from one end of the land to the other; no flesh has peace.
- Jeremiah 46:10That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
- Hosea 11:6The sword shall rage against their cities, consume the bars of their gates, and devour them because of their own counsels.
- 2 Samuel 2:16And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is at Gibeon.
- Proverbs 17:14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
- Job 18:2"How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak.
- Job 19:2"How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?
- Psalms 4:2O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah
- Jeremiah 4:21How long must I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries