Cross Reference 2 SAMUEL 2:27 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} And Joab 3097 said, 559 z8799 [As] God 430 liveth, 2416 unless 3884 x3588 thou hadst spoken, 1696 z8765 surely x3588 then x227 in the morning 1242 the people 5971 had gone up 5927 z8738 every one 376 from following 310 x4480 his brother. 251

As God:
This was spoken in allusion to the proposal of Abner ("And Abnerª saidª ° to¹ Joab,ª Let the young menª now¹ arise,ª ° and playª ° beforeª us. And Joabª said,ª ° Let them arise.ª °" {2Sm 2:14}), which led to the slaughter of twelve young men of each party, and thus provoked the battle. It is probable, that Joab had orders simply to act on the defensive, and would not have attacked the Israelites that day unless compelled; therefore the blame lay upon Abner and Israel. "Now¹ therefore, my lord,ª [as] the LORDª liveth,ª and [as] thy soulª liveth,ª seeing¹ the LORDª hath withholdenª ° thee from comingª °¹ to [shed] blood,ª and from avengingª ° thyself with thine own hand,ª now¹ let thine enemies,ª ° and they that seekª ° evilª to¹ my lord,ª be¹ as Nabal.ª" {1Sm 25:26} + "[As] Godª liveth,ª [who] hath taken awayª ° my judgment;ª and the Almighty,ª [who] hath vexedª ° my soul;ª" {Job 27:2}

unless:
"And Abnerª saidª ° to¹ Joab,ª Let the young menª now¹ arise,ª ° and playª ° beforeª us. And Joabª said,ª ° Let them arise.ª °" {2Sm 2:14} + "A softª answerª turneth² ° away¹ wrath:ª but grievousª wordsª stir upª ° anger.ª" {Prv 15:1} + "The beginningª of strifeª [is as] when one letteth outª ° water:ª therefore leave offª ° contention,ª beforeª it be meddled² ° with.¹" {Prv 17:14} + "[Every] purposeª is establishedª ° by counsel:ª and with good adviceª makeª ° war.ª" {Prv 20:18} + "Go not forthª °¹ hastilyª to strive,ª ° lest¹ [thou know not] what¹ to doª ° in the endª thereof, when thy neighbourª hath put thee to shame.ª °¹" {Prv 25:8} + "And thou saidst,ª ° I shall be¹ a ladyª for ever:ª [so] that¹ thou didst not¹ layª ° these¹ [things] to¹ thy heart,ª neither¹ didst rememberª ° the latter endª of it." {Isa 47:7} + "Orª whatª king,ª goingª ° to make² ° warª ¹ ¹ against² anotherª king,ª sitteth² ° not² downª °¹ first,ª and¹ consultethª ° whetherª he beª ° ableª withª tenª thousandª to meetª ° him that comethª ° againstª himª withª twentyª thousand?ª ... Or else,ª while the otherª isª ° yetª a great way off,ª he sendethª ° an ambassage,ª and desirethª ° conditions² ¹ of¹ peace.ª" {Lke 14:31-32}