Aner עָנֵר
Amorite ally of Abram
Who is Aner in the Bible?
Aner was an Amorite ally of Abram mentioned in Genesis 14:13 and 14:24 who played a supporting role in a pivotal military campaign. Along with his brothers Mamre and Eshcol, Aner joined Abram in pursuing and defeating the kings who had captured Abram's nephew Lot, demonstrating the importance of covenant relationships and military alliances in the patriarchal period. After the victory, Aner received a portion of the recovered spoils as compensation for his participation in the battle, establishing his role as a trusted companion to Abram. Though Aner appears only briefly in Scripture, his partnership with Abram illustrates how the patriarch built relationships with neighboring peoples and secured allies for protection and mutual benefit in ancient Canaan.
Biography
Aner was an Amorite, mentioned in the book of Genesis as one of the three allies of Abram (later known as Abraham). Along with his brothers Mamre and Eshcol, Aner joined forces with Abram to pursue and defeat the kings who had taken Abram's nephew Lot captive. After the successful rescue of Lot and the recovery of the goods that had been taken, Abram gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High. Aner, along with Eshcol and Mamre, received their share of the remaining spoils, as they had fought alongside Abram in the battle.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentGenesis 2 verses
- Genesis 14:13
"Then an escapee came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the Oaks of Mamre the Amorite, a brother of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were bound by treaty to Abram."
Study Genesis → - Genesis 14:24
"I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share for the men who went with me—Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. They may take their portion.”"
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Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עָנֵר |
Aner (1)
14). Judging from the meanings of the two other names, Mamre being the name of the sacred grove or tree (Jahwist) and synonymous with Hebron (Priestly Code); and Eschol--a name of a valley (lit. "grape cluster") from which the personal names are derived--it may be expected to explain the name Aner in a similar way. Dillmann suggested the name of a range of mountains in that vicinity (Comm. at the place and Rosen in ZDMG, XII, 479; Skinner, Genesis, 365).
S. Cohon
a'-ner (`aner, meaning doubtful): A Levitical town in Manasseh, West of the Jordan (1Ch 6:70). Gesenius and others identified it with Taanach of Jo