And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.”
- KJV And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
- BSB “As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”
- NASB Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people of Judah certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.”
- NLT Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.”
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 replies that had Abner not spoken, the pursuit would have continued till morning. He agrees to halt the chase.
Overview
Joab's answer is pointed, implying that Abner's side provoked the day's bloodshed and that only this appeal moves him to relent. Yet he agrees to stop, recognizing the futility of further slaughter. The exchange reveals the deep animosity between the two commanders even as they pause the fighting.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Sam 2:14Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”
- 1 Sam 25:26Now therefore, my lord, as Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, since Yahweh has withheld you from blood guiltiness, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now therefore let your enemies, and those who seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
- Prov 17:14The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
- Prov 25:8Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
- Job 27:2“As God lives, who has taken away my right, the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter
- Isa 47:7You said, ‘I will be a princess forever;’ so that you did not lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the results.
- Prov 20:18Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
- Luke 14:31–32Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
- Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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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 2:27 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
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