2 Samuel 2:26

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, and when the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is in front of Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25The sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one band, and they stood on the top of a certain hill. Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?” 27Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.” 28So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people halted and pursued Israel no longer, nor did they continue to fight anymore.

2 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
• calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call outH7121
• to Joabיוֹאָבyô'âb · JoabH3097
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Shall the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• devourאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• foreverנֵ֫צַחnetsach nêtsach · perpetuityH5331
• Do you not knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that it will be bitterמַרmar mârâh · bitterH4751
• in the endאַחֲרוֹן'achăryôn 'achărôn · lastH314
• Howמָתַיmâthay · howH4970
• longעַד‛ad · tillH5704
• refrainלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• to turnשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• backשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• from followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• their brothersאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:26

• 2 Samuel 2:14Then Abner said to Joab, “Now let the young men arise and hold a contest before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
• Acts 7:26On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?’
• 2 Samuel 11:25Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; make your battle against the city stronger and overthrow it’; and so encourage him.”
• Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
• Jeremiah 2:30“In vain I have struck your sons; They accepted no chastening. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.
• Jeremiah 12:12On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For a sword of the Lord is devouring From one end of the land even to the other; There is no peace for anyone.
• Jeremiah 46:10For that day belongs to the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes; And the sword will devour and be satiated And drink its fill of their blood; For there will be a slaughter for the Lord God of hosts, In the land of the north by the river Euphrates.
• Hosea 11:6The sword will whirl against their cities, And will demolish their gate bars And consume them because of their counsels.
• 2 Samuel 2:16Each one of them seized 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 in Gibeon.
• Proverbs 17:14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
• Job 18:2“How long will you hunt for words? Show understanding and then we can talk.
• Job 19:2“How long will you torment me And crush me with words?
• Psalms 4:2O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? 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

• Abner
• David
• Israel
• Joab
• Truce
• War

In the dictionaries

• Abner
• Joab
• Cord
• Follow
• Ishbosheth
• Requite
• Government
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Samuel, Books of
• Text of the Old Testament

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