English Standard Version
2 Samuel 2:27
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."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.”
Context of 2 Samuel 2:27
25And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. 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?" 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." 28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore. 29And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
- saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
- unlessלוּלֵאlûlê' lûlêy · unlessH3884
- thou hadst spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- surely then in the morningבֹּ֫קֶרbôqer · morningH1242
- the peopleעַם‛am · people: soldiersH5971
- had gone upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- every oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- from followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- his brotherאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251
Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:27
- 2 Samuel 2:14And Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." And Joab said, "Let them arise."
- 1 Samuel 25:26Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal.
- Job 27:2"As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
- Proverbs 15:1A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
- Proverbs 17:14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
- Proverbs 20:18Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
- Proverbs 25:8do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?
- Isaiah 47:7You said, "I shall be mistress forever," so that you did not lay these things to heart or remember their end.
- Luke 14:31Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes 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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Commentaries