II Samuel 1-2

"Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that it will be bitter in the end?" (2:26). General Abner remained loyal to King Saul's son Ishbosheth (v8), but David's kingdom was growing. The two sides were family, friends, yet locked in civil war. At Gibeon, Abner tried to stop Asahel from chasing him. But Asahel persisted, and Abner killed him. Later, when Abner joined David to unite all Israel, Asahel's warrior brothers took revenge and murdered Abner (3:27).

The sword was indeed bitter in the end. Nothing can stop the tragic cycle except divine love: Jesus' sacrifice, greater than our sins.