New English Translation
2 Samuel 2:26
26Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing 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?”
- 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
24So Joab and Abishai chased Abner. At sunset they came to the hill of Ammah near Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25The Benjaminites formed their ranks behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill. Then Abner called out to Joab, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will turn bitter in the end? When will you tell the people to turn aside from pursuing their brothers?” 27Joab replied, “As surely as God lives, if you had not said this, it would have been morning before the people would have abandoned pursuit of their brothers!” 28Then Joab blew the ram’s horn and all the people stopped in their tracks. They stopped chasing Israel and ceased fighting.
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 2:14Abner said to Joab, “Let the soldiers get up and fight before us.” Joab said, “So be it!”
- Acts 7:26The next day Moses saw two men fighting, and tried to make peace between them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why are you hurting one another?’
- 2 Samuel 11:25David said to the messenger, “Tell Joab, ‘Don’t let this thing upset you. There is no way to anticipate whom the sword will cut down. Press the battle against the city and conquer it.’ Encourage him with these words.”
- Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.
- Jeremiah 2:30“It did no good for me to punish your people. They did not respond to such correction. You slaughtered your prophets like a voracious lion.”
- Jeremiah 12:12A destructive army will come marching over the hilltops in the desert. For the Lord will use them as his destructive weapon against everyone from one end of the land to the other. No one will be safe.
- Jeremiah 46:10But that day belongs to the Lord God who rules over all. It is the day when he will pay back his enemies. His sword will devour them until its appetite is satisfied! It will drink their blood until it is full! For the Lord God who rules over all will offer them up as a sacrifice in the land of the north by the Euphrates River.
- Hosea 11:6A sword will flash in their cities, it will destroy the bars of their city gates, and will devour them in their fortresses.
- 2 Samuel 2:16As they grappled with one another, each one stabbed his opponent with his sword and they fell dead together. So that place is called the Field of Flints; it is in Gibeon.
- Proverbs 17:14Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out!
- Job 18:2“How long until you make an end of words? You must consider, and then we can talk.
- Job 19:2“How long will you torment me and crush me with your words?
- Psalms 4:2You men, how long will you try to turn my honor into shame? How long will you love what is worthless and search for what is deceptive? (Selah)
- Jeremiah 4:21“How long must I see the enemy’s battle flags and hear the military signals of their bugles?”
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
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