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 opposite Giah by way of the wilderness of Gibeon. 25And the sons of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and they stood on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Should the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that it will be bitter in the end? So how long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from pursuing their kinsmen?” 27Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people of Judah certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.” 28So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the people halted and no longer pursued Israel, nor did they continue to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
• Should the swordחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• devourאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• foreverנֵ֫צַחnetsach nêtsach · perpetuityH5331
• Do you not realizeיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• that it will be bitterמַרmar mârâh · bitterH4751
• in the endאַחֲרוֹן'achăryôn 'achărôn · lastH314
• So 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 pursuingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• their kinsmenאָח'âch · brother: male-siblingH251

Cross-references for 2 Samuel 2:26

• 2 Samuel 2:14Then Abner said to Joab, “Now have the young men arise and hold a martial skills match in our presence.” And Joab said, “Have them arise!”
• Acts 7:26And on the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting each other, and he tried to reconcile them to peace, by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers, why are you injuring each other?’
• 2 Samuel 11:25Then David said to the messenger, “This is what you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another; fight with determination against the city and overthrow it’; and thereby encourage him.”
• Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
• Jeremiah 2:30“In vain I have struck your sons; They did not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.
• Jeremiah 12:12On all the bare heights in the wilderness Destroyers have come, For the 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 armies, A day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes; And the sword will devour and be satisfied, And drink its fill of their blood; For there will be a slaughter for the Lord God of armies, In the land of the north at the river Euphrates.
• Hosea 11:6And the sword will whirl against their cities, And will destroy their oracle priests And consume them, because of their counsels.
• 2 Samuel 2:16And each 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 4:2You sons of man, how long will my honor be treated as an insult? How long will you love what is worthless and strive for a lie? Selah
• Jeremiah 4:21How long must I see the flag 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