²⁶ Then Abner called out to Joab: “Will this slaughter never end? Do you not realize how bitter the end will be? How long will it take before you order your people to cease from the pursuit of their brothers?”

²⁷ Joab replied: “As God lives, if you had not spoken, the soldiers would not have relented in their pursuit of their brothers until morning.” ²⁸ Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and all the troops came to a halt. They abandoned their pursuit of the Israelites and did not engage in battle any further.