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2 Samuel 2:27

Joab

25 The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.

26 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?”

“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”

28 So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.

29 And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.

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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
“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”
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.
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.”
ASV
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.
DARBY
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.
BLB
And Joab said, “God lives, for unless you had spoken, surely then by the morning all the people would have pulled back from after their brothers.”
ÅB
Joab svarte: Så sant Gud lever: Hadde du ingen ting sagt[^2], da skulle folket allerede fra morgenen av være blitt ført bort, så ingen hadde forfulgt sin bror.
OTB
Joab sa, "Så sant Gud lever, hvis du ikke hadde talt, ville folket bare ha trukket seg tilbake om morgenen, hver fra å forfølge sin bror."
B1930
Joab svarte: Så sant Gud lever: Hadde du ingen ting sagt, da skulde folket allerede fra morgenen av være blitt ført bort, så ingen hadde forfulgt sin bror. / < 2SA 2, 14.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Proverbs 17:14

    To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

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  • 1 Samuel 25:26

    Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.

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  • 2 Samuel 2:14

    Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.

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  • Proverbs 25:8

    do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

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  • Proverbs 15:1

    A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

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  • Isaiah 47:7

    You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.

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  • Luke 14:31–32

    Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

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  • Job 27:2

    “As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice— the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—

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