Lives of Scripture

Aner was an Amorite living at Hebron, one of three brothers -- with Mamre and Eshcol -- described as "allies of Abram" (Genesis 14:13). When a coalition of four eastern kings defeated the kings of the Jordan plain and carried off Abram's nephew Lot along with the plunder of Sodom, a survivor brought word to Abram, who was camped near Mamre's oaks. Abram armed 318 of his own trained men and set out in pursuit; the text notes that Aner, along with Mamre and Eshcol, went with him (14:24). Together they overtook the retreating kings near Dan, routed them by night, and recovered Lot, the other captives, and all the goods that had been taken (14:14-16). After the battle, when the king of Sodom offered to let Abram keep the recovered goods, Abram refused to take anything for himself, so that no one could say he had been made rich by the king of Sodom -- but he made a point of naming his allies' rightful due: "Only let the young men who went with me... take their share" (14:21-24). Aner's brief appearance shows a non-Israelite ally standing with Abram in a moment of real danger and receiving honorable mention alongside him.