## called to ##

"shouted" or "yelled."

## "Must the sword devour forever?  ##

AT: "We do not need to keep using our swords to fight and kill each other." A "sword" cannot literally eat. When it is said to eat or "devour" it is taking part in warfare and killing.  (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-personification]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism]])

## Do you not know it will be bitter in the end? How long will it be before you tell your men to stop pursuing their brothers? ##

AT: "This will not have a good ending, stop this now so that Israelite will not have to kill Israelite." Here "brother" is used to represent the members of the nation of Israel. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]] and [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]] )

## as God lives ##

This is a very strong vow. AT: "with God as my witness" or "God will affirm that I mean this thing I say."

## if you had not said that ##

This refers to what Abner has said to Joab about stopping the battle.