2 Samuel 2:26
ESV
Then Abner called to Joab, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?"
NIV
Abner called out to Joab, "Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize that this will end in bitterness? How long before you order your men to stop pursuing their fellow Israelites?"
NASB
Then Abner called to Joab and said, 'Should the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that it will be bitter in the end? So how long will you refrain from telling the people to turn back from pursuing their kinsmen?'
CSB
Then Abner called out to Joab: "Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?"
NLT
Abner shouted down to Joab, 'Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite 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?
NKJV
Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the latter end? How long will it be then until you tell the people to return from pursuing their brethren?”
What does 2 Samuel 2:26 mean?
Civil war is brutal, and that's what has begun with this battle in Israel. In large part, Abner is responsible for the war. Yet he's also the one showing the most sorrow and regret that it is happening.It seems Abner has bit off more than he can chew. He must have known God chose David to be king after Saul. He was Saul's general, and Saul had known for a long time (1 Samuel 24:20). But five years into David's kingship of the tribe of Judah, Abner installed Saul's son of Ish-bosheth king of the rest of the tribes (2 Samuel 2:8–10).
Abner and Ish-bosheth's army meets Joab and David's army in neutral territory. We aren't told why. Abner suggests they each choose twelve men to duel. Again, we are given no explanation. He may have been trying to limit the fighting. But all 24 men are killed, and the battle breaks out (2 Samuel 2:12–17).
In the heat of battle, Joab's brother Asahel tracks down Abner and chases after him. But Abner doesn't want to fight him. He doesn't want to kill Joab's brother. Asahel won't back down, Abner kills him, and Joab and their older brother chase after Abner (2 Samuel 2:19–24).
Now, the general who seems to have started the fight wants it to end. He doesn't want Israelites to keep fighting each other.
Joab agrees, but the match has been lit (2 Samuel 2:27–28). The civil war will last for two years.
