Abner

Biblical Account

Abner was the son of Ner and the commander of Saul's army. 1 Samuel 14:50-51 identifies Ner as Saul's uncle, which would make Abner Saul's cousin. However, 1 Chronicles 8:33 states, "And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul," so interpretations of the relationship between the two men differ.

• During Saul's reign: It was Abner who brought David, who had slain Goliath, before Saul (1 Samuel 17:55-58). One night while Abner was guarding Saul, David entered the camp and took Saul's spear and cruse of water; David then rebuked Abner for failing to protect the king (1 Samuel 26:5-16).
• Installing Ish-bosheth: After Saul's death, Abner took Saul's son Ish-bosheth to Mahanaim and made him king over Israel (2 Samuel 2:8-9). At about the same time, the men of Judah made David king.
• The battle at Gibeon: Abner fought Joab, who led David's forces, by the pool of Gibeon. When Joab's brother Asahel pursued him, Abner twice warned him to turn aside; when Asahel would not stop, Abner struck him with the hinder end of his spear and killed him (2 Samuel 2:18-23). Abner then proposed an end to the fighting, saying, "Shall the sword devour for ever?" (2 Samuel 2:26).
• Going over to David: When Ish-bosheth accused Abner of having relations with Saul's concubine Rizpah, Abner was enraged and declared that he would transfer the kingdom to David (2 Samuel 3:7-11). At David's demand he returned Michal, won over the elders of Israel and the Benjamites, and then made a covenant with David at Hebron (2 Samuel 3:12-21).
• Death: Claiming to avenge the blood of Asahel, Joab took Abner aside in the city gate and killed him (2 Samuel 3:27). David declared that he had no part in the deed and cursed the house of Joab. He buried Abner in Hebron and mourned him with a lament he composed (2 Samuel 3:28-39).

Significance within Scripture

David said of Abner, "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?" (2 Samuel 3:38). On his deathbed David reminded Solomon that Joab had killed Abner and Amasa, and this became one of the reasons for Joab's execution (1 Kings 2:5, 2:32). 1 Chronicles records that Abner dedicated holy things (26:28) and that his son Jaasiel ruled over the tribe of Benjamin (27:21). Abner is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Debate

• Motive: Some interpreters regard Abner's defection to David as the product of personal anger and political calculation. Others, pointing to his words "as the LORD hath sworn to David" (2 Samuel 3:9-10), see him as a man who knew God's will, delayed, and finally submitted to it.
• The Rizpah incident: A common explanation is that in the ancient Near East, taking a king's concubine was understood as a claim to the throne. The cases of Absalom (2 Samuel 16:21-22) and Adonijah (1 Kings 2:22) are cited in support. The text of 2 Samuel, however, does not directly state Abner's intent.
• Joab's killing of Abner: The text presents it as revenge for Joab's brother. Some commentators hold that political calculation was also involved, since Joab may have feared that Abner would threaten his command of the army. Others point to the injustice of the killing, noting that Hebron was designated a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7). These are interpretations, however, rather than direct statements of the text.
• A site in present-day Hebron is traditionally identified as Abner's tomb, though this identification rests on later tradition.

In the Korean Church

Abner is rarely the sole subject of a sermon. He is mentioned mainly in sermons and Bible studies on how David became king over all Israel or on the figure of Joab. In these settings he is often linked to themes such as loyalty and betrayal, the cycle of revenge, and the order established by God.