Lives of Scripture
Abner (M)
First named in 1 Samuel 14:50-51
Abner, Saul's cousin, commanded Saul's army throughout his reign (1 Samuel 14:50-51). After Saul's death, Abner installed Saul's surviving son Ish-bosheth as king over Israel while David reigned over Judah alone, beginning years of war between the two houses (2 Samuel 2:8-10, 17; 3:1). During one battle, Abner killed Asahel, Joab's brother, in self-defense while retreating, though he warned Asahel repeatedly to stop pursuing him first (2:18-23) -- an act that would have lasting consequences. After a dispute with Ish-bosheth over one of Saul's concubines, Abner resolved to defect and bring all Israel's loyalty over to David, negotiating terms and securing peace (3:6-21). David received him well and sent him away in peace. But Joab, still bearing a blood-grudge over Asahel, called Abner back privately and murdered him, avenging his brother's death under the guise of a private word (3:22-27). David publicly and forcefully disavowed the killing, cursing Joab's house for it, ordering national mourning, and personally walking behind Abner's funeral bier weeping, so that all Israel understood the king had no part in the murder (3:28-39). Abner's death removed the last obstacle to David's uniting the kingdom, but at the cost of a man David himself mourned as "a prince and a great man."
Thought for Today
Abner spent years propping up a rival throne against David, God's actual anointed king, before finally coming to make peace -- and David received him without holding those years against him. Jesus receives us the same way when we finally turn to Him, whatever side we spent our lives defending before.
References: 1 Samuel 14:50-51; 1 Samuel 17:55-57; 1 Samuel 20:25; 1 Samuel 26:5-15; 2 Samuel 2:8-31; 2 Samuel 3:6-37; 2 Samuel 4:1-12; 1 Kings 2:5-32; 1 Chronicles 26:28; 1 Chronicles 27:21
Genealogy
Connections
- Ner (M) — begot → Abner (M)
- Abner (M) — begot → Jaasiel (M)
- Ish-bosheth (M) — confronted over a concubine, prompting his defection → Abner (M)
Abner had installed Ish-bosheth as king over Israel after Saul's death, but when Ish-bosheth confronted him over a relationship with one of Saul's concubines, Abner turned angrily on him and defected to David, stripping Ish-bosheth of his only real support.
2 Samuel 2:8-10; 2 Samuel 3:6-11
- Joab (M) — murdered him in revenge → Abner (M)
Joab, still bearing a blood-grudge over Abner's earlier killing of his brother Asahel in battle, lured Abner aside under a pretense of peace and murdered him just as Abner was working to unite Israel behind David.
2 Samuel 2:18-23; 2 Samuel 3:22-30
- Abner (M) — killed in self-defense during a pursuit → Asahel (M)
Asahel, David's swift-footed nephew, pursued Abner relentlessly during the battle at Gibeon despite Abner's repeated warnings to turn aside; when Asahel refused to stop, Abner struck him dead with the butt of his spear. The killing set off a blood feud, since Joab later murdered Abner in revenge for his brother's death.
2 Samuel 2:18-23; 2 Samuel 3:27-30