abner Summary and Overview

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. Compare 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.)

(father of light). 1. Son of Ner, who was the brother of Kish, #1Ch 9:36| the father of Saul. (B.C. 1063.) Abner, therefore, was Saul's first cousin, and was made by him commander-in-chief of his army. #1Sa 14:51; 17:57; 26:5-14| After the death of Saul David was proclaimed king of Judah; and some time subsequently Abner proclaimed Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, king of Israel. War soon broke out between the two rival kings, and a "very sore battle" was fought at Gibeon between the men of Israel under Abner and the men of Judah under Joab. #1Ch 2:16| Abner had married Rizpah, Saul's concubine, and this, according to the views of Oriental courts, might be so interpreted as to imply a design upon the throne. Rightly or wrongly, Ish-bosheth so understood it, and he even ventured to reproach Abner with it. Abner, incensed at his ingratitude, opened negotiations with David, by whom he was most favorably received at Hebron. He then undertook to procure his recognition throughout Israel; but after leaving his presence for the purpose was enticed back by Joab, and treacherously murdered by him and his brother Abishai, at the gate of the city, partly, no doubt, from fear lest so distinguished a convert to their cause should gain too high a place in David's favor, but ostensibly in retaliation for the death of Asahel. David in sorrow and indignation, poured forth a simple dirge over the slain hero. #2Sa 3:33,34| 2. The father of Jaasiel, chief of the Benjamites in David's reign, #1Ch 27:21| probably the same as the preceding.

AB'NER (father of light), the son of Ner, was a first cousin of Saul, and a faithful and distinguished general of his armies. 1 Sam 14:50. We first hear of him, particularly, as the captain of the host, of whom Saul inquired concerning the stripling, David, whose victory over Goliath had excited his astonishment; and after a little time Abner introduced David to Saul, with the head of the giant Philistine in his hand. 1 Sam 17:57. It was through the want of vigilance in Abner that Saul's life was placed in David's power in the wilderness of Ziph. 1 Sam 26. See David, Saul. After David was anointed king of Judah, Abner procured the appointment of Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, as king of Israel; and in process of time the army of David, under Joab, and the army of Israel, under Abner, arrayed themselves on either side of the pool of Gibeon. While occupying this position twelve men of each army met and fought desperately. This contest was followed by a general battle, which resulted in Abner's defeat. He fled, but was pursued by Asahel, who "was light of foot as a wild roe." ABO ABR When in the heat of pursuit, Abner counselled him to desist, and threatened to turn upon him and slay him if he did not, but Asahel refused to turn aside, and Abner, '' with the hinder end of the spear," smote him so that he died. Joab and Abishai were also engaged in the pursuit, but at Abner's entreaty they desisted and returned. 2 Sam 2. As David's strength increased, the house of Saul, though faithfully served by Abner, became gradually weaker, till at length Ish-bosheth charged Abner with an offence against Saul's family. 2 Sam 3:7. He had taken Rizpah, the concubine of Saul, into his harem, and this act was interpreted according to Oriental ideas as an attempt to seize the throne. He was exceedingly irritated by the charge, and immediately forsook the interests of Saul's house and espoused the cause of David. David received him cordially, and sent him away in peace to persuade Israel to submit to David's government. While he was gone on this errand, Joab returned ; and hearing what had been done, he went to the king and warned him against Abner as a spy and traitor. Soon after, and without David's knowledge, Joab sent for Abner ; and when he arrived, took him aside privately, and murdered him in revenge of the death of his brother Asahel ; and they buried him in Hebron. The estimation in which he was held by the king and people appears from the sacred history. The king wept and refused his food, and all the people wept; "And the king said unto his servants. Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ?" 2 Sam 3:38.

("father of light".) Son of Ner, who was the brother of Kish, the father of Saul (1 Chronicles 9:36). Made commander in chief by his cousin Saul. Introduced David to Saul, after Goliath's death (1 Samuel 14:51; 1 Samuel 17:55; 1 Samuel 17:57). With Saul at Hachilah (1 Samuel 26:8-14). At Saul's death he upheld the dynasty in Ishbosheth's person, mainly owing to the paramount influence of the tribe Ephraim, which was jealous of Judah. While David reigned over Judah as God's anointed, at Hebron, Ishbosheth professedly, but Abner really, reigned in Mahanaim beyond Jordan. In 2 Samuel 2:10 Ishbosheth is said to have reigned for two years, but David for seven. Probably for the first five years after the fatal battle of Gilboa David alone reigned in the old capital of Judah, Hebron; but the rest of the country was in the Philistines' hands. During these five years Israel gradually regained their country, and at length Abner proclaimed Ishbosheth at Mahanaim beyond Jordan, for security against the Philistines: 2 Samuel 2:5-7 confirms this. David's thanks to the men of Jabesh Gilead for the burial of Saul and his sons imply that no prince of Saul's line as yet had claimed the throne. His exhortation, "Be valiant," refers to the struggle with the Philistines, who alone stood in the way of his reign over all Israel. Ishbosbeth's known weakness, which accounts for his absence from the battle of Gilboa, suited well Abner's ambition. At Gibeon Abner's army was beaten by Joab's; and in fleeing Abner, having tried to deter Asahel, Joab's brother, from following him (since Abner shrank from a blood feud with Joab), but in vain, was at last constrained in self defense to slay him (2 Samuel 2). Abner, presuming on his position as the only remaining stay of Ishbosbeth, was tempted to take the late king Saul's concubine wife, Rizpah. This act, involving in oriental idea the suspicion of usurping the succession to the throne (so in the case of Absalom: 2 Samuel 16:21; 2 Samuel 20:3; 1 Kings 2:13-25; (See ABIATHAR, (See ADONIJAH, and (See ABISHAG), called forth a rebuke from even so feeble a person as the nominal king, Ishbosheth. Henceforth, in consequence of the rebuke, Abner set about bringing the northern ten tribes to David's sway. Received favorably and feasted by David, after his wife Michal was taken from Phaltiel and restored to him, Abner went forth from Hebron in peace. But Joab, by a message, brought him back from the well of Sirah, and, taking him aside to speak peaceably, murdered him, Abishai also being an accomplice, for the blood of Asahel (Numbers 35:19; 2 Samuel 3:30; 2 Samuel 3:39), and on Joab's part also, as appears likely from Amasa's case, from fear of Abner's becoming a rival in the chief command (2 Samuel 20:4-10). David felt the sons of Zeruiah too strong for him to punish their crime; but, leaving their punishment to the Lord, he showed every honor to Abner's memory by following the bier, and composing this dirge: "Ought Abner to die as a villain dies? Thy hands not bound, Thy feet not brought into fetters, As one falls before the sons of wickedness, so fellest thou!" The second and third lines are connected with the last, describing the state in which he was when slain. In form, the subject in such propositions comes first, the verb generally becoming a participle. Indignation preponderates over sorrow; the point of the dirge is the mode of Abner's death. If Abner had been really slain in revenge for blood, as Joab asserted, he ought to have been delivered up "bound hand and foot." But Joab, instead of waiting for his being delivered up with the legal formalities to the authorized penalty (if he were really guilty, which he was not), as an assassin, stabbed him as a worthless fellow (1 Kings 2:5). David added that he felt himself, though a king, weakened by his loss, and that "a prince and great man had fallen."