Abner

Abner, the son of Ner, was King Saul's cousin and the commander of his army; he later supported Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king before defecting to David.

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).

Father of light; i.e., “enlightening”, the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul’s army (1 Sam. 14:50; 17:55; 20:25). He first introduced David to the court of Saul after the victory over Goliath (1 Sam. 17:57). After the death of Saul, David was made king over Judah, and reigned in Hebron. Among the other tribes there was a feeling of hostility to Judah; and Abner, at the head of Ephraim, fostered this hostility in the interest of the house of Saul, whose son Ish-bosheth he caused to be proclaimed king (2 Sam. 2:8). A state of war existed between these two kings. A battle fatal to Abner, who was the leader of Ish-boseth’s army, was fought with David’s army under Joab at Gibeon (2 Sam. 2:12). Abner, escaping from the field, was overtaken by Asahel, who was “light of foot as a wild roe,” the brother of Joab and Abishai, whom he thrust through with a back stroke of his spear (2 Sam. 2: 18-32).

Being rebuked by Ish-bosheth for the impropriety of taking to wife Rizpah, who had been a concubine of King Saul, he found an excuse for going over to the side of David, whom he now professed to regard as anointed by the Lord to reign over all Israel. David received him favourably, and promised that he would have command of the armies. At this time Joab was absent from Hebron, but on his return he found what had happened. Abner had just left the city; but Joab by a stratagem recalled him, and meeting him at the gate of the city on his return, thrust him through with his sword (2 Sam. 3:27, 31-39; 4:12. Comp. 1 Kings 2:5, 32). David lamented in pathetic words the death of Abner, “Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?” (2 Sam. 3:33-38.)