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.
And Joab said, 'As surely as God lives, if you hadn't spoken up, by morning each person would have stopped chasing their own brothers.'
Joab is saying that Abner's call for peace prevented what would have been a longer, more devastating civil war between the tribes of Israel.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, this verse occurs during a civil war in Israel following the death of King Saul, as David begins to consolidate his rule over Judah. Joab, as the commander of David's forces, is addressing Abner, the leader of Saul's remaining troops, after a brutal skirmish at the pool of Gibeon. Joab's statement highlights the role of words in halting unnecessary bloodshed during this turbulent period of national division.
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