“As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.”
This verse takes place during a battle between the followers of David and the followers of Saul’s house. The fighting becomes intense and turns into a civil conflict between fellow Israelites—“brother” against “brother.”
Abner speaks to Joab and says that if Joab had not called for the fighting to stop, the battle would have continued until morning. His words show that this conflict did not need to keep going. It was unnecessary bloodshed among God’s own people.
The verse highlights the tragedy of internal division. These men were not foreign enemies; they were Israelites fighting Israelites. The word “brother” emphasizes how painful and wrong this kind of conflict is.
It also shows the power of words. One command stopped the battle. What weapons could not do, a spoken decision accomplished. This reminds us that leaders are responsible for either escalating or ending conflict.
The lesson is that pride and rivalry can lead to destructive division, but humility and wisdom can bring peace. God’s people are not meant to destroy one another, and sometimes the most powerful act is choosing to stop fighting.
