Atomic Bible

Saul's cousin and commander of his army

Abner

Named in 53 verses across 4 books, first in 1 Samuel 14:50.

אֲבִינֵרAbner

The name means “father of light.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Father
Ner
Children
Jaasiel
People
Tribe of Benjamin

About Abner Written by AI

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 (1 Samuel 14:50 to 51). Abner was a prominent figure during Saul's reign and demonstrated his loyalty to the king, as seen in his interactions with David (1 Samuel 17:55 to 57). After Saul's death, Abner supported Saul's son Ish-bosheth as king over Israel, while David reigned over Judah (2 Samuel 2:8 to 10). During this time, there was a long war between the houses of Saul and David (2 Samuel 3:1). Abner led Ish-bosheth's forces against David's army, commanded by Joab (2 Samuel 2:12 to 17). In a battle at Gibeon, Abner killed Joab's brother Asahel, who had pursued him (2 Samuel 2:18 to 23). Later, Abner defected to David after a dispute with Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 3:6 to 21). He worked to transfer the kingdom to David and made an agreement with him (2 Samuel 3:12 to 21). However, Joab, seeking revenge for his brother's death, murdered Abner (2 Samuel 3:22 to 27). David mourned Abner's death and declared his innocence in the matter (2 Samuel 3:28 to 39). Abner's defection and death weakened Ish-bosheth's position, and he was eventually assassinated (2 Samuel 4:1 to 8). This paved the way for David to become king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1 to 5). David later reminded Solomon of Joab's actions against Abner (1 Kings 2:5). Abner is also mentioned in connection with the treasures dedicated to the Lord (1 Chronicles 26:28) and as the father of Jaasiel, a leader in David's army (1 Chronicles 27:21).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

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.)

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 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.

  2. 1 Samuel 14:51

    Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.

  3. 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.”

  4. 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.

  5. 1 Samuel 20:25

    He sat in his usual place by the wall, opposite Jonathan and beside Abner, but David’s place was empty.

  6. 1 Samuel 26:5

    Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.

  7. 1 Samuel 26:7

    That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.

  8. 1 Samuel 26:14

    And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner replied.

  9. 1 Samuel 26:15

    So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him?

  10. 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,

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 2 Samuel 2:17

    The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David.

  14. 2 Samuel 2:19

    and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit.

  15. 2 Samuel 2:20

    And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” “It is,” Asahel replied.

  16. 2 Samuel 2:21

    So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” But Asahel would not stop chasing him.

  17. 2 Samuel 2:22

    Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?”

  18. 2 Samuel 2:23

    But Asahel refused to turn away. So Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died.

  19. 2 Samuel 2:24

    But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon.

  20. 2 Samuel 2:25

    The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill.

  21. 2 Samuel 2:26

    Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?”

  22. 2 Samuel 2:29

    And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim.

  23. 2 Samuel 2:30

    When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing,

  24. 2 Samuel 2:31

    but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner.

  25. 2 Samuel 3:6

    During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul.

  26. 2 Samuel 3:7

    Now Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?”

  27. 2 Samuel 3:8

    Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman!

  28. 2 Samuel 3:9

    May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him:

  29. 2 Samuel 3:11

    And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him.

  30. 2 Samuel 3:12

    Then Abner sent messengers on his behalf to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.”

  31. 2 Samuel 3:16

    Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home.

  32. 2 Samuel 3:17

    Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king.

  33. 2 Samuel 3:19

    Abner also spoke to the Benjamites. Then he went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin.

  34. 2 Samuel 3:20

    When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.

  35. 2 Samuel 3:21

    Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace.

  36. 2 Samuel 3:22

    Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, because David had sent him on his way in peace.

  37. 2 Samuel 3:23

    When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”

  38. 2 Samuel 3:24

    So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away!

  39. 2 Samuel 3:25

    Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”

  40. 2 Samuel 3:26

    As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David was unaware of it.

And 13 more

2 Samuel 3:27, 3:28, 3:30, 3:31, 3:32, 3:33, 3:37, 4:1, 4:12

1 Kings 2:5, 2:32

1 Chronicles 26:28, 27:21

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.