2 Samuel 2:26

²⁴ Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

²⁵ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

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?

²⁷ 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.

²⁸ So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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?”
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?
WEB: Then Abner called to Joab, and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Don’t you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long will it be then, before you ask the people to return from following their brothers?”
ASV: 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?
DARBY: And Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? and how long shall it be ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
BLB: And Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword forever devour? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? And until when will you not say to the people to turn from after their brothers?”

ÅB: Da ropte Abner til Joab: Skal sverdet aldri holde opp å fortære? Skjønner du ikke at dette vil ende med sorg? Hvor lenge vil du vente før du befaler dine folk at de skal holde opp med å forfølge sine brødre?
OTB: Da ropte Abner til Joab og sa, "Skal sverdet fortære for alltid? Vet du ikke at det vil bli bittert til slutt? Hvor lenge vil du avstå fra å fortelle folket å slutte å forfølge sine slektninger?"
B1930: Da ropte Abner til Joab: Skal sverdet aldri holde op å fortære? Skjønner du ikke at dette vil ende med sorg? Hvor lenge vil du vente før du byder dine folk at de skal holde op med å forfølge sine brødre?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 46:14
Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.
Read in context
Acts 7:26
And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
Read in context
Jeremiah 46:10
For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
Read in context
Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Read in context
Hosea 11:6
And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour them, because of their own counsels.
Read in context
Psalms 4:2
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
Read in context
Jeremiah 12:12
The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.
Read in context
Jeremiah 4:21
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
Read in context