2 Samuel 2:27

Contextual Overview

²⁵ And the sons of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. ²⁵ Abner's troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand. ²⁵ And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of an hill. ²⁵ The men of Benjamin came to Abner, and all stood together at the top of the hill. ²⁵ The Benjaminites formed their ranks behind Abner and were like a single army, standing at the top of a certain hill. ²⁵ And the children of Benjamin assembled themselves after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of a hill. ²⁵ The children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one band, and stood on the top of a hill. ²⁵And the sons of [the tribe of] Benjamin gathered together behind Abner and became one troop, and took their stand on the top of a hill. ²⁵ And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. ²⁵ And the sones of Beniamyn weren gaderid to Abner, and thei weren gaderid togidere in to o cumpeny, and stoden in the hiynesse of oon heep of erthe.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

As God: This was spoken in allusion to the proposal of Abner - 2 Samuel 2:14, which led to the slaughter of twelve young men of each party, and thus provoked the battle. It is probable, that Joab had orders simply to act on the defensive, and would not have attacked the Israelites that day unless compelled; therefore the blame lay upon Abner and Israel. 1 Samuel 25:26, Job 27:2

unless: 2 Samuel 2:14, Proverbs 15:1, Proverbs 17:14, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 25:8, Isaiah 47:7, Luke 14:31, Luke 14:32

in the morning: Heb. from the morning

gone up: or, gone away

Reciprocal: Judges 9:38 - General Psalms 133:1 - how good Galatians 5:15 - General

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Joab said, as God liveth,.... Which was the form of an oath, swearing by the living God:

unless thou hadst spoken; that is, these words in 2 Samuel 2:14; "let the young men arise and play", that he had not given the challenge to fight:

surely then in the morning the people had gone up everyone from following his brother; they would have gone away and never fought at all; they were not desirous of shedding their blood, and following after them to slay them: thus he lays the blame upon Abner, and makes him to be the cause and beginner of the war. Some render the particle by "if", and give the sense, that if he had spoken what he last did sooner, the people would long before this time have desisted from pursuing them; for it was not from a thirst after their blood, and a desire to luke vengeance on them, that they pursued them, but to bring them to submission, and lay down their arms; for they could not in honour retreat until they desired it; but the former sense seems best, and is the general sense of the Jewish commentators.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Joab’s speech means either “unless thou hadst spoken (challenged us to fight, 2 Samuel 2:14), the people would have returned from the pursuit of their brethren (many hours ago, even) this morning;” or, “If thou hadst not spoken (asked for peace, 2 Samuel 2:26), surely the people would have returned, etc., in the morning, i. e. would not have ceased the pursuit until the morning.” The latter interpretation is the more accordant with Joab’s boastful character.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 27. And Joab said — The meaning of this verse appears to be this: If Abner had not provoked the battle, (see 2 Samuel 2:14), Joab would not have attacked the Israelites that day; as his orders were probably to act on the defensive. Therefore the blame fell upon Israel.