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id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/2_samuel/2.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_samuel/2.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Joab answered, &#8220As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_samuel/2.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_samuel/2.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_samuel/2.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_samuel/2.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Joab said, <i>As</i> God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_samuel/2.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And Joab said, “<i>As</i> God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_samuel/2.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people <i>of Judah</i> certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_samuel/2.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Joab said, &#8220As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_samuel/2.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_samuel/2.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have <i>only</i> gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_samuel/2.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people certainly would have stopped pursuing their brothers in the morning.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_samuel/2.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“As God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops wouldn’t have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_samuel/2.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />As God lives,&#8221 Joab replied, &#8220if you had not spoken up, the troops wouldn&#8217t have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_samuel/2.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_samuel/2.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Joab shouted back, "I swear by the living God, if you hadn't spoken, my men would have chased their relatives all night!" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_samuel/2.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_samuel/2.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Joab answered, "I solemnly swear, as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would not have stopped chasing their relatives until morning."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_samuel/2.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"I swear by the living God," Joab answered, "that if you had not spoken, my men would have kept on chasing you until tomorrow morning." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_samuel/2.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Joab answered, "As God lives, if you hadn't spoken up, by morning my army would have broken off their pursuit of their own relatives." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_samuel/2.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?As surely as God lives,? Joab replied, ?if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_samuel/2.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Joab 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!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_samuel/2.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Joab said, "As the LORD lives, if you had not spoken, surely the people would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_samuel/2.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_samuel/2.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />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.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_samuel/2.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joab says, “God lives! For unless you had spoken, surely then from the morning each of the people had gone up from after his brother.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_samuel/2.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Joab saith, 'God liveth! for unless thou hadst spoken, surely then from the morning had the people gone up each from after his brother.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_samuel/2.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Joab will say, God lives if thou spakest not, for then from the morning the people went up, each from after his brother.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_samuel/2.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And Joab said: As the Lord liveth, if thou hadst spoke sooner, even in the morning the people should have retired from pursuing after their brethren. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_samuel/2.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And Joab said: “As the Lord lives, if you had spoken in the morning, the people would have withdrawn from pursuing their brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_samuel/2.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Joab replied, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, it would be morning before the people would be stopped from pursuing their brothers.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_samuel/2.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, the people would have continued to pursue their kinsmen, not stopping until morning.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_samuel/2.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Joab said, As the LORD lives, unless you had spoken, surely in the morning I would have let the people give up every one from pursuing his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_samuel/2.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Yuab said: “Living is LORD JEHOVAH! If you had not spoken, truly at dawn I would have saved the people, each man from going after his brother!”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_samuel/2.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Joab said: 'As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then only after the morning the people had gone away, every one from following his brother.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_samuel/2.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Joab said, As the Lord lives, if thou hadst not spoken, even from the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_samuel/2-27.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0ajZHUzMKw?start=528" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_samuel/2.htm">War Between the Houses of David and Saul</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">26</span>Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” <span class="reftext">27</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">“As surely as God</a> <a href="/hebrew/2416.htm" title="2416: ḥay (N-ms) -- Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life. From chayah; alive; hence, raw; fresh, strong; also life, whether literally or figuratively.">lives,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3097.htm" title="3097: yō·w·’āḇ (N-proper-ms) -- The LORD is father, three Isr. From Yhovah and 'ab; Jehovah-fathered; Joab, the name of three Israelites.">Joab</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">replied,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">“if you had not</a> <a href="/hebrew/3884.htm" title="3884: lū·lê (Conj) -- If not, unless. Or luwley; from luw' and lo'; if not."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: dib·bar·tā (V-Piel-Perf-2ms) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">spoken up,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/227.htm" title="227: ’āz (Adv) -- At that time. A demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">the troops</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: na·‘ă·lāh (V-Nifal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">would have continued</a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: mê·’a·ḥă·rê (Prep-m) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after.">pursuing</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ā·ḥîw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab).">their brothers</a> <a href="/hebrew/1242.htm" title="1242: mê·hab·bō·qer (Prep-m, Art:: N-ms) -- Morn- ing. From baqar; properly, dawn; generally, morning.">until morning.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">28</span>So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/14-45.htm">1 Samuel 14:45</a></span><br />But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die—he who accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel? Never! As surely as the LORD lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for with God’s help he has accomplished this today.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/12-24.htm">1 Kings 12:24</a></span><br />that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers, the Israelites. Each of you must return home, for this is My doing.’” So they listened to the word of the LORD and turned back according to the word of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/8-3.htm">Judges 8:3</a></span><br />God has delivered Oreb and Zeeb, the two princes of Midian, into your hand. What was I able to do compared to you?” When he had said this, their anger against him subsided.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/25-33.htm">1 Samuel 25:33</a></span><br />Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/26-9.htm">1 Samuel 26:9-11</a></span><br />But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” / David added, “As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. / But the LORD forbid that I should extend my hand against the LORD’s anointed. Instead, take the spear and water jug by his head, and let us go.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/30-24.htm">1 Samuel 30:24</a></span><br />Who will listen to your proposal? The share of the one who went to battle will match the share of the one who stayed with the supplies. They will share alike.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/15-1.htm">Proverbs 15:1</a></span><br />A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-9.htm">Matthew 5:9</a></span><br />Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-18.htm">Romans 12:18</a></span><br />If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/3-18.htm">James 3:18</a></span><br />Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-26.htm">Ephesians 4:26</a></span><br />“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-11.htm">1 Peter 3:11</a></span><br />He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/12-14.htm">Hebrews 12:14</a></span><br />Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-27.htm">Luke 6:27-29</a></span><br />But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. / If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-52.htm">Matthew 26:52</a></span><br />“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Joab said, As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/2-14.htm">2 Samuel 2:14</a></b></br> And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/25-26.htm">1 Samuel 25:26</a></b></br> Now therefore, my lord, <i>as</i> the LORD liveth, and <i>as</i> thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to <i>shed</i> blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/27-2.htm">Job 27:2</a></b></br> <i>As</i> God liveth, <i>who</i> hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, <i>who</i> hath vexed my soul;</p><p class="hdg">unless</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_samuel/2-14.htm">2 Samuel 2:14</a></b></br> And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/15-1.htm">Proverbs 15:1</a></b></br> A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/17-14.htm">Proverbs 17:14</a></b></br> The beginning of strife <i>is as</i> when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.</p><p class="hdg">in the morning [heb] from the morning </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_samuel/2-26.htm">Attacking</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-10.htm">Continued</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-26.htm">Countrymen</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-10.htm">Followed</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-26.htm">Following</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-34.htm">Hadst</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-26.htm">Joab</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-24.htm">Jo'ab</a> <a href="/1_samuel/29-11.htm">Morning</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-10.htm">Pursuit</a> <a href="/1_samuel/30-8.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/joshua/7-12.htm">Unless</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-4.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_samuel/3-22.htm">Attacking</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-29.htm">Continued</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/28-11.htm">Countrymen</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-16.htm">Followed</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-30.htm">Following</a> <a href="/2_kings/13-19.htm">Hadst</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-28.htm">Joab</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-28.htm">Jo'ab</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-29.htm">Morning</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-30.htm">Pursuit</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-9.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-13.htm">Unless</a> <a href="/2_samuel/3-11.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">2 Samuel 2</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-1.htm">David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron </a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-4.htm">where he is made king of Judah</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-5.htm">He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-8.htm">Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-12.htm">A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-18.htm">Asahel is slain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-25.htm">At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat</a></span><br><span class="reftext">32. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_samuel/2-32.htm">Asahel's burial</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_samuel/2.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_samuel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_samuel/2.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>As surely as God lives,</b><br>This phrase is an oath, invoking the living God as a witness to the truth of the statement. It reflects the seriousness and solemnity of Joab's words. The use of such an oath is common in the Old Testament, emphasizing the speaker's sincerity and the gravity of the situation. It underscores the belief in God's active presence and sovereignty, a theme prevalent throughout the Bible, as seen in passages like <a href="/deuteronomy/32-40.htm">Deuteronomy 32:40</a> and <a href="/jeremiah/12-16.htm">Jeremiah 12:16</a>.<p><b>Joab replied,</b><br>Joab, the commander of David's army, is a central figure in the narrative of 2 Samuel. His role as a military leader is significant, and his actions often reflect the political and military tensions of the time. Joab's interactions with Abner, the commander of Saul's army, highlight the complex dynamics between the house of David and the remnants of Saul's kingdom. Joab's character is multifaceted, showing both loyalty and ruthlessness, which are explored in various parts of 2 Samuel.<p><b>if you had not spoken up,</b><br>This phrase refers to Abner's earlier plea to Joab to cease the pursuit and bloodshed between the two factions. Abner's intervention is crucial in preventing further conflict, illustrating the power of words to influence and change the course of events. The importance of wise counsel and timely intervention is a recurring theme in biblical narratives, as seen in <a href="/proverbs/15.htm">Proverbs 15:1</a>, which speaks to the power of a gentle answer to turn away wrath.<p><b>the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers</b><br>The term "brothers" emphasizes the familial and national ties between the combatants, as both groups are Israelites. This internal conflict is a tragic aspect of Israel's history, reflecting the division and strife that can occur within God's chosen people. The pursuit of "brothers" highlights the civil war-like nature of the conflict, reminiscent of other biblical instances where internal strife threatened the unity of God's people, such as the division of the kingdom in <a href="/1_kings/12.htm">1 Kings 12</a>.<p><b>until morning.</b><br>This indicates the relentless nature of the pursuit and the potential for prolonged violence. The mention of "morning" suggests a continuation of hostilities that could have resulted in greater loss of life. The cessation of conflict before morning signifies a turning point, where restraint and peace are chosen over continued bloodshed. This moment of potential reconciliation foreshadows the eventual unification of Israel under David's rule, aligning with God's promise to establish David's kingdom, as seen in <a href="/2_samuel/7-16.htm">2 Samuel 7:16</a>.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joab.htm">Joab</a></b><br>The commander of David's army, known for his military prowess and loyalty to David. He plays a crucial role in the early establishment of David's kingdom.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/a/abner.htm">Abner</a></b><br>The commander of Saul's army and a key figure in the power struggle following Saul's death. He initially supports Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, as king over Israel.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/david.htm">David</a></b><br>Anointed king over Judah, David is in the process of consolidating his rule over all Israel. His leadership is marked by both military and spiritual dimensions.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/g/gibeon.htm">Gibeon</a></b><br>The location of the battle between the forces of Joab and Abner. It serves as a backdrop for the unfolding conflict between the house of Saul and the house of David.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_pursuit.htm">The Pursuit</a></b><br>The event where Joab's forces are chasing Abner's troops, highlighting the ongoing civil strife within Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_words.htm">The Power of Words</a></b><br>Joab's response to Abner shows how words can either escalate or de-escalate conflict. As believers, we should be mindful of our speech, especially in tense situations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Joab's invocation of God's name underscores the belief in God's control over human affairs. Trusting in God's sovereignty can bring peace in times of conflict.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/pursuing_peace.htm">Pursuing Peace</a></b><br>The cessation of pursuit at Joab's command illustrates the importance of seeking peace and reconciliation, aligning with the biblical call to be peacemakers.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_and_responsibility.htm">Leadership and Responsibility</a></b><br>Joab's decision to halt the pursuit demonstrates the responsibility leaders have to protect and guide their people wisely.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_samuel_2.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Samuel 2</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_1_sam_2_30-36_contradict_ezekiel_18.htm">In 1 Samuel 2:30-36, God pronounces judgment on Eli's family--does this contradict later scriptural teachings on individual accountability (e.g., Ezekiel 18)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_would_god_allow_shimei_to_curse_david.htm">(2 Samuel 16:5-8) How could God supposedly endorse Shimei's hostile cursing of David if God is just and fair?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_punish_a_child_for_david's_sin.htm">In 2 Samuel 12:7-14, why would a just God inflict punishment on an innocent child for David's sin, seemingly contradicting Ezekiel 18:20?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_isn't_joab_punished_for_killing_amasa.htm">In 2 Samuel 20:8-10, why isn't Joab explicitly reprimanded for the ruthless killing of Amasa, despite earlier prohibitions against murder?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_samuel/2.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(27) <span class= "bld">Unless thou hadst spoken.</span>--Joab's reply to Abner admits of either of two interpretations: (1) Joab seeks to throw the whole blame of the conflict upon Abner, by saying that if he had not proposed the combat between the champions (<a href="/2_samuel/2-14.htm" title="And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.">2Samuel 2:14</a>) there would have been no battle, but "the people" of both sides would have separated peaceably at Gibeon; or (2), as the phrase is more generally and more probably under. stood, that Joab had intended to keep up the pursuit only until the following morning, but as Abner already sued for mercy, he was content, and would stop now.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_samuel/2.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 27.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up;</span> or as the Revised Version renders, <span class="accented">had gone away, nor followed every man his brother.</span> The Revised Version makes the sense more plain. Joab throws the whole blame, and rightly so, on Abner. David would under no circumstances have attacked Ishbosheth, and Joab with his men had marched to the tank of Gibeon simply to repel an invading force. When there, Joab, doubtless by David's orders, had remained strictly on the defensive, and so unwilling were both armies to fight, that Abner had to resort to a most cruel scene of butchery in order to inflame their passions and force them to begin a conflict of brother against brother. But for Abner's challenge, both armies would have separated as friends. And Joab still acts upon the same principle of forbearance, and gives the signal for stopping the pursuit. He was not a man of a tender heart, but he was wise and sensible, and fully aware that the slaughter of Abner and his men, even if he could have destroyed them all, would only have rankled in the minds of all Israel, and set them against David and his rule. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_samuel/2-27.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“As surely as God</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><br /><span class="word">lives,”</span><br /><span class="heb">חַ֚י</span> <span class="translit">(ḥay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2416.htm">Strong's 2416: </a> </span><span class="str2">Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Joab</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹאָ֔ב</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·’āḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3097.htm">Strong's 3097: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">replied,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“if you had not</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(kî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">spoken up,</span><br /><span class="heb">דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ</span> <span class="translit">(dib·bar·tā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the troops</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">would have continued</span><br /><span class="heb">נַעֲלָ֣ה</span> <span class="translit">(na·‘ă·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">pursuing</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(mê·’a·ḥă·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_310.htm">Strong's 310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The hind or following part</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their brothers</span><br /><span class="heb">אָחִֽיו׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḥîw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_251.htm">Strong's 251: </a> </span><span class="str2">A brother, )</span><br /><br /><span class="word">until morning.”</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵֽהַבֹּ֙קֶר֙</span> <span class="translit">(mê·hab·bō·qer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1242.htm">Strong's 1242: </a> </span><span class="str2">Dawn, morning</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_samuel/2-27.htm">2 Samuel 2:27 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_samuel/2-27.htm">OT History: 2 Samuel 2:27 Joab said As God lives if you (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_samuel/2-26.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Samuel 2:26"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 2:26" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_samuel/2-28.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Samuel 2:28"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Samuel 2:28" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>