²⁵ Now the children of Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became ^[a]a unit, and took their stand on top of a hill. ²⁶ 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?”

²⁷ And Joab said, “As God lives, ^[b]unless ^(A)you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”