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 continued pursuing Abner. As the sun was setting, they reached the hill of Ammah, which faces Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. 25Then the sons of Benjamin rallied to Abner and became one group, taking their stand on top of one of the hills. Then Abner called out to Joab and said, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize how bitter it will be in the end? How long until you order the people to stop pursuing their kinsmen?” 27“As God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken, then surely the people would have gone up until the morning, everyone after his kinsman.” 28So Joab blew the shofar, and all the soldiers halted, and pursued Israel no more, nor did they continue to fight any longer.

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

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, “Now let the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
• Acts 7:26So on the next day he appeared to them as they were fighting. He tried to reconcile them in shalom, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?’
• 2 Samuel 11:25Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab, ‘Don’t let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Press your attack against the city and overthrow it!’ So tell him, chazak!”
• Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured with the sword.” For the mouth of Adonai has spoken.
• Jeremiah 2:30“In vain I struck your children. They took no correction. Your sword devoured your prophets like a ravaging lion.”
• Jeremiah 12:12On all the bare hills in the wilderness destroyers have come. For the sword of Adonai is devouring from the one end of the land to the other end of the land. No flesh has shalom.
• Jeremiah 46:10For that day belongs to my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot, as a day of vengeance, to avenge Himself against His foes. The sword will devour and be satisfied and will drink its fill of their blood. For it will be a sacrifice for my Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot, in the northern land by the river Euphrates.
• Hosea 11:6So a sword will fall on his cities, and destroy and devour his gate bars because of their own counsels.
• 2 Samuel 2:16Then each grasped his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side; so they all 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 stop a quarrel before it breaks out.
• Job 18:2“How long until you end these words? Consider, and then we will talk.
• Job 19:2“How long will you torment my soul and crush me with words?
• Psalms 4:2Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness! You set me free when I am in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
• Jeremiah 4:21How long must I see the battle standard and hear the sound of the shofar?

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