Abner shouts to Joab, asking how long the killing will continue and if they realize the cost of endless conflict. The Hebrew word for "devour" is akal, literally meaning "to eat"—here, describing how violence consumes lives. Abner appeals to reason and shared humanity, not just to strategy or pride.

This verse pushes back against the idea that fighting is inevitable or that it must continue until one side is destroyed. Abner’s question—how long will the sword devour?—is a challenge to stop and think about where this is all going.

If you’ve ever been in a feud or watched a conflict spiral out of control, you know how hard it is to be the one who calls for peace. But sometimes, asking the hard question—"How long will this go on?"—is the first step toward ending the cycle. It takes courage to speak up for peace when everyone else is ready to keep fighting.