²⁵ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. 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.