²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab and said, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end? How long will you ^[a]refrain from telling the people to turn back from following their brothers?” ²⁷ And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then the people would have only gone away in the morning, each from following his brother.” ²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still and pursued Israel no longer, ^(A)nor did they continue to fight anymore.