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Easton's Bible Dictionary
father of light; i.e., "enlightening", the son of Ner
and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul's army ( 1
Samuel 14:50 ; 17:55
; 20:25
). He first introduced David to the court of Saul after the victory over Goliath
( 1
Samuel 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
Samuel 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
Samuel 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
Samuel 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
Samuel 3:27 , 3:31
- 39
; 4:12
. Compare 1
Kings 2:5 , 2:32
). 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
Samuel 3:33 - 38
)
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
father of light
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(father of light)
(1) Son of Ner, who was the brother of Kish, ( 1
Chronicles 9:36 ) the father of Saul. (B.C. 1063.) Abner, therefore, was Sauls
first cousin, and was made by him commander-in-chief of his army. ( 1
Samuel 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, Sauls 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. ( 1
Chronicles 2:16 ) Abner had married Rizpah, Sauls 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 Davids favor, but ostensibly in retaliation for the death of Asahel. David
in sorrow and indignation, poured forth a simple dirge over the slain hero. (
2
Samuel 3:33 , 3:34
)
(2) The father of Jaasiel, chief of the Benjamites in Davids reign, ( 1
Chronicles 27:21 ) probably the same as the preceding.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ab'-ner ('abhner; in 1
Samuel 14:50 the Hebrew has the fuller form, 'abhiner, Abiner; compare Abiram
by the side of Abram; meaning, "my father is a lamp"):
Captain of the host under Saul 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 (1
Samuel 14:50 f). In 1
Chronicles 8:33 ; 9:39
the text appears to be faulty; read: And Ner begat Abner, and Kish begat Saul.
According to 1
Chronicles 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 (1
Samuel 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 1
Samuel 17:57). We find Abner accompanying the king in his pursuit of David
(1
Samuel 26:5). 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 2
Samuel 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
Tags:
abner, bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, commander-in-chief of saul's army, david, define, joab, rizpah, saul
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