²⁵ The Benjaminites rallied behind Abner, forming a single unit. Then they took their positions on the top of a hill. ²⁶ Abner yelled down to Joab, “Must the sword keep killing forever? Don’t you realize that this will end bitterly? How long before you order the troops to stop chasing their brothers?”

²⁷ “As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you hadn’t just said that, the soldiers would have continued after their brothers until morning.”