Abner אֲבִינֵר
Saul's cousin and commander of his army
Biography
Abner was the son of Ner and the cousin of King Saul, Israel's first monarch. He served as the commander of Saul's army (1Sa.14.50-51). Abner was a prominent figure during Saul's reign and demonstrated his loyalty to the king, as seen in his interactions with David (1Sa.17.55-57; 20.25; 26.5-15).
After Saul's death, Abner supported Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king over Israel, while David reigned over Judah (2Sa.2.8-10). During this time, there was a long war between the houses of Saul and David (2Sa.3.1). Abner led Ish-bosheth's forces against David's army, commanded by Joab (2Sa.2.12-17). In a battle at Gibeon, Abner killed Joab's brother Asahel, who had pursued him (2Sa.2.18-23).
Later, Abner defected to David after a dispute with Ish-bosheth (2Sa.3.6-21). He worked to transfer the kingdom to David and made an agreement with him (2Sa.3.12-21). However, Joab, seeking revenge for his brother's death, murdered Abner (2Sa.3.22-27). David mourned Abner's death and declared his innocence in the matter (2Sa.3.28-39).
Abner's defection and death weakened Ish-bosheth's position, and he was eventually assassinated (2Sa.4.1-8). This paved the way for David to become king over all Israel (2Sa.5.1-5). David later reminded Solomon of Joab's actions against Abner (1Ki.2.5, 32). Abner is also mentioned in connection with the treasures dedicated to the Lord (1Ch.26.28) and as the father of Jaasiel, a leader in David's army (1Ch.27.21).
Family
In Scripture
4 biblical books1 Samuel 5 verses
- 1 Samuel 14:50
"The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul’s uncle."
- 1 Samuel 14:51
"Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel."
- 1 Samuel 17:55
"When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I can’t tell.”"
- 1 Samuel 17:57
"As David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand."
- 1 Samuel 20:25
"The king sat on his seat, as at other times, even on the seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty."
2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:8
"Now Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul’s army, had taken Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;"
- 2 Samuel 2:12
"Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon."
- 2 Samuel 2:14
"Abner said to Joab, “Please let the young men arise and play before us!” Joab said, “Let them arise!”"
- 2 Samuel 2:17
"The battle was very severe that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before David’s servants."
- 2 Samuel 2:19
"Asahel pursued Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand or to the left from following Abner."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲבִינֵר | H0074 |
Abner
and Ishbosheth (Eshbaal). He was Saul's cousin; Ner the father of Abner and Kish the father of Saul being brothers, the sons of Abiel (1Sa 14:50 f). In 1Ch 8:33; 9:39 the text appears to be faulty; read: And Ner begat Abner, and Kish begat Saul. According to 1Ch 27:21 Abner had a son by the name of Jaasiel. Abner was to Saul what Joab was to David. Despite the many wars waged by Saul, we hear little of Abner during Saul's lifetime. Not even in the account' of the battle of Gilboa is mention made of him. Yet both his high office and his kinship to the king must have brought the two men in close contact. On festive occasions it was the custom of Abner to sit at table by the king's side (1Sa 20:25). It was Abner who introduced the young David fresh from his triumph over Goliath to the king's court (so according to the account in 1Sa 17:57). We find Abner accompanying the king in his pursuit of David (1Sa 26:5 ff). Abner is rebuked by David for his negligence in keeping watch over his master (ibid., 15).
Upon the death of Saul, Abner took up the cause of the young heir to the throne, Ishbosheth, whom he forthwith removed from the neighborhood of David to Mahanaim in the East-Jordanic country. There he proclaimed him king over all Israel. By the pool of Gibeon he and his men met Joab and the servants of David. Twelve men on each side engaged in combat which ended disastrously for Abner who fled. He was pursued by Asahel, Joab's brother, whom Abner slew. Though Joab and his brother Abishai sought to avenge their brother's death on the spot, a truce was effected; Abner was permitted to go his way after three hundred and threescore of his men had fallen. Joab naturally watched his opportunity. Abner and his master soon had a quarrel over Saul's concubine, Rizpah, with whom Abner was intimate. It was certainly an act of treason which Ishbosheth was bound to resent. The disgruntled general made overtures to David; he won over the tribe of Benjamin. With twenty men of them he came to Hebron and arranged with the king of Judah that he would bring over to his side all Israel. He was scarcely gone when Joab learned of the affair; without the knowledge of David he recalled him to Hebron where he slew him, "for the blood of Asahel his brother." David mourned sincerely the death of Abner. "Know ye not," he addressed his servants, "that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" He followed the bier in person. Of the royal lament over Abner a fragment is quoted:
"Should Abner die as a fool dieth? Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: As a man falleth before the children of iniquity, so didst thou fall."
(See 2Sa 3:6-38.) The death of Abner, while it thus cannot in any wise be laid at the door of David, nevertheless served his purposes well. The backbone of the opposition to David was broken, and he was soon proclaimed as king by all Israel.
Max L. Margolis
a-bod'. See ABIDE.
a-bol'-ish (chathath, "to be broken down," "made void," "My righteousness shall not be abolished" (<ref osisRef="Bible:Isa.51