2 Samuel 2:28

28 So Joab had a horn sounded, and all the people came to a stop, and gave up going after Israel and fighting them.

2 Samuel 2:28 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 2:28

So Joab blew a trumpet
Or caused one to be blown as a signal of a retreat:

and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more;
as soon as they heard the trumpet sound, the meaning of which they understood, they stepped at once, and left off their pursuit:

neither fought they any more;
that day, and perhaps no pitched battle afterwards; for none we read of, though the war continued after this a long time, and there might be often skirmishes, which greatly weakened Abner's party. See ( 2 Samuel 3:1 ) .

2 Samuel 2:28 In-Context

26 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 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.

28 So Joab had a horn sounded, and all the people came to a stop, and gave up going after Israel and fighting them.

29 And all that night Abner and his men went through the Arabah; they went over Jordan and through all Bithron and came to Mahanaim.

30 And Joab came back from fighting Abner: and when he had got all his men together, it was seen that nineteen of David's men, in addition to Asahel, were not with them.