New King James Version
2 Samuel 2:26
26Then 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?”
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 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
24Joab and Abishai also pursued Abner. And the sun was going down when they came to the hill of Ammah, which is before Giah by the road to the Wilderness of Gibeon. 25Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. 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?” 27And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.” 28So Joab blew a trumpet; and all the people stood still and did not pursue Israel anymore, 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 2:14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men now arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.”
- Acts 7:26And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong 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. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.”
- Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword”; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
- Jeremiah 2:30“In vain I have chastened your children; They received no correction. Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion.
- Jeremiah 12:12The plunderers have come On all the desolate heights in the wilderness, For the sword of the Lord shall devour From one end of the land to the other end of the land; No flesh shall have peace.
- Jeremiah 46:10For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, A day of vengeance, That He may avenge Himself on His adversaries. The sword shall devour; It shall be satiated and made drunk with their blood; For the Lord God of hosts has a sacrifice In the north country by the River Euphrates.
- Hosea 11:6And the sword shall slash in his cities, Devour his districts, And consume them, Because of their own counsels.
- 2 Samuel 2:16And each one grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called the Field of Sharp Swords, which is in Gibeon.
- Proverbs 17:14The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
- Job 18:2“How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak.
- Job 19:2“How long will you torment my soul, And break me in pieces with words?
- Psalms 4:2How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah
- Jeremiah 4:21How long will 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries