Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them.
Parallel translations
- WEB Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel; for Joab held the people back.
- KJV And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
- NKJV So Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel. For Joab held back the people.
- NASB Then Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab restrained the people.
- NLT Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and his men returned from chasing the army of Israel.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joab sounds the trumpet to halt the pursuit, sparing further bloodshed. With Absalom dead, the war is ended.
Overview
Having killed Absalom, Joab restrains the army from continuing the slaughter, recalling the troops. The act of mercy toward the broader people, even from a ruthless commander, limits Israel's losses. The verse shows the rebellion's collapse the moment its head is removed, ending the fratricidal conflict.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 2 Sam 20:22Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem.
- 2 Sam 2:28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.
- Num 10:2–10“Make two trumpets of hammered silver to be used for calling the congregation and for having the camps set out.
- 1 Cor 14:8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 18:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.