Abner and his men marched through the Arabah all that night — Abner's retreat is orderly and deliberate. The Arabah (הָעֲרָבָה, hā'ărāḇâh), the Jordan Valley, is their escape route. 'All that night' suggests they march without rest, creating distance between themselves and Joab's forces. The retreat is necessary: David's army controls the field, and prolonged engagement would favor the superior force. Abner's tactical withdrawal shows his military skill; he knows when to fight and when to retreat. The march through the night becomes a liminal moment—the civil war continues, but neither side has achieved decisive victory.

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