²⁵ Then the sons of Benjamin rallied to Abner and became one group, taking their stand on top of one of the hills. ²⁶ Then Abner called out to Joab and said, “Must the sword devour forever? Don’t you realize how bitter it will be in the end? How long until you order the people to stop pursuing their kinsmen?”

²⁷ “As God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken, then surely the people would have gone up until the morning, everyone after his kinsman.”