2 Samuel 2:27
New International Version
Joab answered, “As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning.”

New Living Translation
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.”

English Standard Version
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.”

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

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”

New American Standard Bible
Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people of Judah certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.”

NASB 1995
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.”

NASB 1977
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.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have only gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.”

Amplified Bible
Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people certainly would have stopped pursuing their brothers in the morning.”

Christian Standard Bible
“As God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops wouldn’t have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops wouldn’t have stopped pursuing their brothers until morning.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Joab shouted back, "I swear by the living God, if you hadn't spoken, my men would have chased their relatives all night!"

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joab answered, "I solemnly swear, as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would not have stopped chasing their relatives until morning."

Good News Translation
"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."

International Standard Version
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."

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

NET Bible
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!"

New Heart English Bible
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."

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
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.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
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.”

Young's Literal Translation
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.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joab will say, God lives if thou spakest not, for then from the morning the people went up, each from after his brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
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.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Joab said: “As the Lord lives, if you had spoken in the morning, the people would have withdrawn from pursuing their brothers.”

New American Bible
Joab replied, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, it would be morning before the people would be stopped from pursuing their brothers.”

New Revised Standard Version
Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, the people would have continued to pursue their kinsmen, not stopping until morning.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
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.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
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!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
War Between the Houses of David and Saul
26Then 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?” 27“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” 28So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 14:45
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.

1 Kings 12:24
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.

Judges 8:3
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.

1 Samuel 25:33
Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

1 Samuel 26:9-11
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.”

1 Samuel 30:24
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.”

Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

James 3:18
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Ephesians 4:26
“Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,

1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Luke 6:27-29
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.

Matthew 26:52
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

2 Samuel 2:14
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

1 Samuel 25:26
Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.

Job 27:2
As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

unless

2 Samuel 2:14
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

in the morning [heb] from the morning

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2 Samuel 2
1. David, by God's direction, with his company goes up to Hebron
4. where he is made king of Judah
5. He commends them of Jabesh Gilead for their king of Israel
8. Abner makes Ishbosheth king of Israel
12. A mortal skirmish between twelve of Abner's and twelve of Joab's men.
18. Asahel is slain
25. At Abner's motion, Joab sounds a retreat
32. Asahel's burial














As surely as God lives,
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 Deuteronomy 32:40 and Jeremiah 12:16.

Joab replied,
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.

if you had not spoken up,
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 Proverbs 15:1, which speaks to the power of a gentle answer to turn away wrath.

the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers
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 1 Kings 12.

until morning.
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 2 Samuel 7:16.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joab
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.

2. Abner
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.

3. David
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.

4. Gibeon
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.

5. The Pursuit
The event where Joab's forces are chasing Abner's troops, highlighting the ongoing civil strife within Israel.
Teaching Points
The Power of Words
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.

God's Sovereignty
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.

Pursuing Peace
The cessation of pursuit at Joab's command illustrates the importance of seeking peace and reconciliation, aligning with the biblical call to be peacemakers.

Leadership and Responsibility
Joab's decision to halt the pursuit demonstrates the responsibility leaders have to protect and guide their people wisely.(27) Unless thou hadst spoken.--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 (2Samuel 2:14) 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.

Verse 27. - Unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up; or as the Revised Version renders, had gone away, nor followed every man his brother. 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.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“As surely as God
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים (hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

lives,”
חַ֚י (ḥay)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

Joab
יוֹאָ֔ב (yō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3097: Joab -- 'the LORD is father', three Israelites

replied,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“if you had not
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

spoken up,
דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ (dib·bar·tā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

the troops
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

would have continued
נַעֲלָ֣ה (na·‘ă·lāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

pursuing
מֵאַחֲרֵ֥י (mê·’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition-m
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

their brothers
אָחִֽיו׃ (’ā·ḥîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

until morning.”
מֵֽהַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ (mê·hab·bō·qer)
Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning


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OT History: 2 Samuel 2:27 Joab said As God lives if you (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 2:26
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