And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother. (2 Samuel 2:27)
The exact meaning of these words of Joab is not clear. Several interpretations have been offered:
(1) Joab is referring back to the events of the morning, placing the blame for the struggle upon Abner and insisting that the people on both sides were ready that morning to go to their homes without a battle had not Abner issued his challenge to war.
(2) Joab was endeavoring to make it clear to Abner that had he not asked for peace the people would have continued the struggle till the morning, with all that that implied of still further disastrous results for Abner.
(3) Even if Abner had not spoken, Joab had intended continuing the struggle only till the morning, but in view of Abner’s present request he was willing to call off the battle at this juncture.
On the whole, it seems that Joab was endeavoring to place the blame upon Abner, whose rash challenge at Gibeon had brought on the struggle that day between brother and brother. To engage in civil war was most unfortunate, and Joab sought to clear himself of responsibility for what had occurred.