2 Samuel 2:28

28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

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 Abner called to Joab, and said, "Shall the sword devour forever? Don't you know that it will be bitterness in the latter end? How long shall it be then, before you bid the people return from following their brothers?"

27 Joab said, As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone away, nor followed everyone his brother.

28 So Joab blew the trumpet; and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

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

30 Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.