²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren? ²⁷ And Joab said, As God liveth, if thou hadst not spoken, surely then ^[a]in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed every one his brother. ²⁸ So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.