2Sa 2:17, 26-27 | ESV | STEP | And the battle was very fierce that day . And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David .

2 Samuel 2:17

17 And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

2 Samuel 2:26-27

26 Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” 27 And Joab said, “As God lives, if ^ayou had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.”