2 Samuel 2 27

2 Samuel 2:27 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.

2 Samuel 2:27 nkjv

And Joab said, "As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren."

2 Samuel 2:27 niv

Joab answered, "As surely as God lives, if you had not spoken, the men would have continued pursuing them until morning."

2 Samuel 2:27 esv

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."

2 Samuel 2:27 nlt

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."

2 Samuel 2 verses

2 Samuel 2 27 Meaning

Joab swore by the living God that had Abner not provoked the initial skirmish, the pursuit would have ended by morning, and the Israelite warriors would have separated from each other peacefully, ceasing the internecine conflict. This statement highlights Joab's view of Abner's culpability in escalating the conflict, suggesting a quicker, less bloody resolution would have occurred naturally had Abner not issued the challenge.

2 Samuel 2 27 Context

This verse is set amidst the civil war between the house of Saul (led by Abner, supporting Ish-bosheth) and the house of David (led by Joab, supporting David). The immediate preceding events involve a "game" proposed by Abner at the Pool of Gibeon, which quickly devolved into a fierce battle, followed by a relentless pursuit by Joab's men after Abner's retreating forces. Specifically, Joab's brother, Asahel, pursued Abner and was killed by him. Joab, now leading the pursuit in revenge for his brother, corners Abner. Abner pleads with Joab to stop the bloodshed, appealing to their shared Israelite identity as "brothers." Joab's sharp response in verse 27 lays the blame for the conflict directly at Abner's feet, suggesting the entire bloody pursuit could have been avoided had Abner not initiated the deadly "game" earlier that day. It underlines the weariness of war even among combatants, but also the deep-seated grievances fueling the conflict.

2 Samuel 2 27 Word analysis

• And Joab said: Signifies a direct response, highlighting Joab's strong will and his role as David's commander, often acting decisively and sometimes violently.
• “As God lives,”: Hebrew: חַי יְהוָה (Chai YHWH). This is a very strong and solemn oath, invoking the living God (Yahweh) as witness and guarantor of the truth of the statement. It indicates the gravity and certainty with which Joab speaks. It's not a mere exclamation but a covenant oath.
• “unless you had spoken,”: Hebrew: לוּלֵא דִּבַּרְתָּ (lule dibbarta). "Unless" or "Had not...spoken." The verb "dibbarta" (you had spoken) refers to Abner's initial proposition in 2 Sam 2:14: "Let the young men now arise and compete before us." This challenge, framed as sport, quickly became a deadly battle, which Joab points out as the instigating act. Joab blames Abner's words for the entire escalation and resulting carnage.
• “surely then by morning”: Implies a temporal boundary. Joab suggests that if Abner hadn't started the conflict, the skirmish, if any, would have concluded swiftly, likely within the morning of the day it started, without extended pursuit. It highlights Joab's pragmatic assessment of battle cessation if unprovoked.
• “the people would have gone away,”: Hebrew: הָעָלָה (haʿalah) – "the people would have gone up" or "departed." Refers to the cessation of engagement and retreat of forces. This suggests a peaceful disengagement rather than a continued, bloody chase.
• “each from his brother.”: Hebrew: אִישׁ מֵאָחִיו (ish me'achiv) – literally, "man from his brother." This phrase emphasizes the civil nature of the conflict; Israelites were fighting other Israelites, kin against kin. Joab underscores the unnatural and tragic aspect of this fratricidal war. The implication is that if Abner had not spoken, this "brother against brother" fighting would have ceased or never begun to this destructive degree, and they would have peacefully parted ways. This directly responds to Abner's plea in verse 26 for Joab to stop the pursuit against his "brethren."

2 Samuel 2 27 Bonus section

The legal and theological weight of "As God lives" is immense, functioning similarly to an affidavit in court, putting one's soul before God. It connects this specific civil conflict in 2 Samuel to a broader biblical concern for unity among God's people. The recurring motif of "brother against brother" is a theological lament throughout Israel's history, from Cain and Abel, to the tribal conflicts, civil wars (like this one or Jdgs 20), and later prophetic condemnations. This verse acts as a lament for what could have been: a short, contained conflict, quickly dissolved, preserving the sense of national brotherhood, rather than a prolonged, destructive civil war. Joab, while pragmatic and violent, shows a weary understanding of the tragedy of such conflict, placing the initial blame for the spiraling violence on the seemingly innocent challenge proposed by Abner.

2 Samuel 2 27 Commentary

Joab's oath by the living God underscores the deep conviction and spiritual weight behind his statement. He is not merely being sarcastic but laying out a divinely-witnessed truth as he perceives it. His words highlight Abner's profound miscalculation in initiating the "game" which became a battle. Joab asserts that the bloodshed was not an inevitable outcome but a direct consequence of Abner's provocative words. This exchange is pivotal because it shows Joab's perspective: the current relentless pursuit, which led to Asahel's death, stems directly from Abner's initial action. Joab points out the tragedy of internal strife, "each from his brother," suggesting an ideal state of unity contrasted with the grim reality of civil war. The phrase "by morning" conveys a swift and natural resolution to conflict, contrasting it with the extended, bloody pursuit that actually occurred, implying that an alternative, less destructive path was lost due to Abner's initiating "spoken" act. It is a moment of cold, pragmatic truth from a hardened warrior, attributing blame where he sees it, even as he acknowledges the shared brotherhood of the combatants.