Abner
“Father of light, or my father is a lamp”
Summary
The cousin of King Saul and commander-in-chief of his army, who after Saul's death supported Ishbosheth's claim to the throne for seven years before being treacherously murdered by Joab.
☩Identity and Early Role
Abner was the son of Ner and cousin of King Saul, their fathers Ner and Kish being brothers. He served as commander-in-chief of Saul's army throughout his reign. It was Abner who introduced the young David to Saul's court after his victory over Goliath. He accompanied Saul in the pursuit of David, and was present when David took the king's spear and water cruse while they slept—for which David reproached him for negligence in guarding his master.
☩Support of Ishbosheth
After Saul's death at the battle of Gilboa, Abner's experience and influence enabled him to uphold the failing house of Saul for seven years. Though it was generally known that David had been divinely appointed to succeed Saul, Abner took Ishbosheth, a surviving son whose weakness had kept him from the fatal battle, and made him king over the northern tribes at Mahanaim beyond Jordan. David meanwhile reigned over Judah at Hebron. For the first five years after Gilboa, the land remained largely in Philistine hands; only gradually did Israel regain their territory before Abner could proclaim Ishbosheth.
☩Conflict with Joab
Desultory warfare continued between the houses of Saul and David. At Gibeon, Abner's forces met Joab's men in a battle that ended in Abner's defeat. As he fled, Asahel, Joab's swift-footed brother, pursued him relentlessly. Abner twice warned Asahel to desist, dreading a blood-feud with Joab, but when his life was endangered he killed his pursuer with a backward thrust of his spear. Though Joab and Abishai sought immediate vengeance, a truce was effected after three hundred sixty of Abner's men had fallen.
☩Defection to David
Abner grew increasingly presumptuous as the sole remaining prop of Saul's house. He took Rizpah, Saul's concubine, to himself—an act that in oriental understanding could imply designs upon the throne. Even the feeble Ishbosheth ventured to rebuke him for this impropriety. Enraged, Abner openly declared he would abandon Ishbosheth's cause and devote himself to David, acknowledging that the Lord had appointed David to reign over all Israel. After winning over the tribe of Benjamin and the elders of Israel, he came to Hebron with twenty men to negotiate terms. David received him favorably and promised him the chief command of the united armies.
☩Murder and David's Lament
Joab returned to Hebron after Abner had departed in peace. Learning what had passed, and fearing that Abner might eclipse him in David's favor, Joab recalled Abner by a message sent without David's knowledge. At the city gate, Joab led him aside as if to speak privately, then suddenly thrust his sword into his body. David was not privy to this assassination and demonstrated his grief through public mourning, following the bier as chief mourner and composing a dirge: 'Should Abner die as a fool dies? Thy hands not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters—as one falls before the sons of wickedness, so you fell!' David declared that a prince and great man had fallen in Israel, and left Joab's punishment to the Lord, feeling the sons of Zeruiah too strong for him at that time.
Related Verses53 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Abner," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Abner," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Abner," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Abner," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).