Abner אֲבִינֵר
Saul's cousin and commander of his army
Who is Abner in the Bible?
Abner was King Saul's cousin and the commander of his army during Israel's early monarchy (1 Samuel 14:50-51). After Saul's death, Abner supported Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king over Israel while David reigned over Judah, leading forces against David's general Joab in a prolonged civil conflict (2 Samuel 2:8-10, 2:12-17). During one battle at Gibeon, Abner killed Joab's brother Asahel in self-defense (2 Samuel 2:18-23). Abner later defected to David's side after a dispute with Ish-bosheth, working to transfer the kingdom to David (2 Samuel 3:6-21). His assassination by Joab in revenge for Asahel's death marked a turning point in the consolidation of David's rule and illustrated the political instability that characterized the transition from Saul's dynasty to David's.
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
"His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner."
- 1 Samuel 14:51
"Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel."
- 1 Samuel 17:55
"As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”"
- 1 Samuel 17:57
"So when David returned from killing the Philistine, still holding his head in his hand, Abner took him and brought him before Saul."
- 1 Samuel 20:25
"He sat in his usual place by the wall, opposite Jonathan and beside Abner, but David’s place was empty."
2 Samuel 5 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:8
"Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,"
- 2 Samuel 2:12
"One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon."
- 2 Samuel 2:14
"Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied."
- 2 Samuel 2:17
"The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David."
- 2 Samuel 2:19
"and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲבִינֵר |
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