THEOSISTheodoret of Cyrus
What do the words 'The sword shall be drawn in victory' (2 Kings 2:26) signify? The soldiers fleeing from Abner had reached a hill, while Joab and his men were poised to strike. In that moment, Abner wisely and humbly reminded the commander of the unpredictable nature of warfare. This is encapsulated in his questions, 'When will the sword appear in victory?' and 'How long will you not tell the people to return from behind their brothers?' He invoked the idea of kinship to quell hostility and highlighted the uncertainties of battle, illustrating that victors can often face defeat and those in pursuit may find themselves fleeing. Moreover, it is unjust to pursue those who are retreating in an effort to annihilate the defeated. This understanding is reflected in the phrase 'the sword shall be drawn in victory.' Upon considering Abner's words, Joab acquiesced and signaled with a trumpet to indicate the end of his pursuit.