²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab, ‘Is the sword to keep devouring for ever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you order your people to turn from the pursuit of their kinsmen?’ ²⁷ Joab said, ‘As God lives, if you had not spoken, the people would have continued to pursue their kinsmen, not stopping until morning.’ ²⁸ Joab sounded the trumpet and all the people stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or engaged in battle any further.