^{26 Ref} Then crying out to Joab, Abner said, Are fighting and destruction to go on for ever? do you not see that the end will only be bitter? how long will it be before you send the people back and make them give up attacking their countrymen?

^{27 Ref} And Joab said, By the living God, if you had not given the word, the people would have gone on attacking their countrymen till the morning.