Illustration created for this project.
Abner
The commander of Saul's army who upheld Ish-bosheth, then turned to David and was killed by Joab.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1
Family & lineage
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Benjamin.
1 Samuel 4:1
Life, role & deeds
Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Ancient writersJosephus narrates the career of Abner (Abenner), commander of Saul's army and later kingmaker for Ishbosheth, including his defection to David and murder by Joab. The account is genuine external testimony but is dependent on 1-2 Samuel.
Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 6-7 (Saul and David narratives), on Abner (Abenner) son of Ner, Saul's army commander and kingmaker for Ishbosheth, his defection to David and murder by Joab; dependent on 1-2 Samuel. Text: ed./tr. R. Marcus, Loeb Classical Library, Josephus vol. V (Antiquities V-VIII), Harvard Univ. Press, 1934.
Name & titles
ScholarlyAbner (אַבְנֵר) combines ab ('father') with ner ('lamp'), meaning 'my father is a lamp'; the fuller form Abiner (אֲבִינֵר) appears at 1 Samuel 14:50.
Hebrew onomastic analysis; both the contracted (Abner) and full (Abiner) spellings occur in the Masoretic text.
Where in scripture
1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings1 Chronicles
1 Samuel 4:11 Samuel 4:121 Samuel 14:501 Samuel 14:511 Samuel 17:551 Samuel 17:571 Samuel 20:251 Samuel 26:51 Samuel 26:71 Samuel 26:141 Samuel 26:152 Samuel 3:271 Kings 2:51 Kings 2:321 Chronicles 26:281 Chronicles 27:21
Family
In their own words — 10 recorded sayings
“And when Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, Abner, whose son is this young man? And Abner said, On your life, O king, I have no idea.” — 1 Samuel 17:55
“And crying out to the people and to Abner, the son of Ner, David said, Have you no answer to give, Abner? Then Abner said, Who is that crying out to the king?” — 1 Samuel 26:14
“And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men give a test of their strength before us. And Joab said, Let them do so.” — 2 Samuel 2:14
“Then Abner, looking back, said, Is it you, Asahel? And he said, It is I.” — 2 Samuel 2:20
“And Abner said, Then go to the right or to the left and put your hands on one of the fighting-men and take his arms. But Asahel would not be turned away from going after Abner. Then again Abner said to Asahel, Go to one side, do not keep on coming after me: why will you make me put an end to you? for then I will be shamed before your brother Joab.” — 2 Samuel 2:21-22
“Then crying out to Joab, Abner said, Are fighting and destruction to go on for ever? do you not see that the end will only be bitter? how long will it be before you send the people back and make them give up attacking their countrymen?” — 2 Samuel 2:26
“And Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-bosheth, and he said, Am I a dog's head of Judah? I am this day doing all in my power for the cause of your father Saul and for his brothers and his friends, and have not given you up into the hands of David, and now you say I have done wrong with a woman. May God's punishment be on Abner, if I do not for David as the Lord in his oath has said, And if I do not take away the kingdom from the family of Saul and make David ruler over Israel and Judah from Dan as far as Beer-sheba!” — 2 Samuel 3:8-10
“And Abner sent men to David at Hebron, saying, Make an agreement with me, and I will give you my support in getting all Israel on your side.” — 2 Samuel 3:12
…and 2 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
In art
