Abner in the Bible

Meaning: father of light

Exact Match

And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

Verse ConceptsCommanderNamed Wives

And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.

And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

Verse ConceptsNot Knowing PeopleWho Is This?

And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

Verse ConceptsSkulls

And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty.

Verse ConceptsCustomWallsEmpty ThingsPeople Sitting DownSide Of People

And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

Verse ConceptsSoldiers

And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?

Verse ConceptsWho Is This?

And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord.

Verse ConceptsUnique IndividualsPeople Keeping

But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

Verse ConceptsRank

And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

Verse ConceptsAmusementsLeisure, And PastimesRecreationBoxing

And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

Verse ConceptsdefeatDefeat Of God's People

And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

Verse ConceptsNot Turning Asiderelentless

And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

Verse ConceptsPlunderingNot Turning AsideChanging Direction

And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

Verse ConceptsBackSpearsStomachsPiercingsMotionlessnessComing To RestStriking To Death

Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

Verse ConceptsPursuing PeopleEternal Judgement

And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

Verse ConceptsWalking All Night

And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

Verse ConceptsNineteen

But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

Verse ConceptsThree To Four HundredThree Hundred And AboveKilling Within Israel

And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

Verse ConceptsGreat IndividualsCivil War

And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?

Verse ConceptsConcubinesSleep, PhysicalExtra Marital Sex Examplesmistress

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?

Verse ConceptsBlameAnger, HumanLoyaltyOffenceNamed People Angry With OthersPeople Of Judah

So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;

Verse ConceptsGod Swearing Blessings

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.

Verse ConceptsMessengers Sent OutAllegiances

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.

Verse ConceptsWeeping

And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:

Verse ConceptsMaking KingsThe Elders Gathered

And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.

Verse ConceptsBanquets, Examples OfTwenty

And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

Verse ConceptsCovenant RelationshipsMaking Kings

And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.

Verse ConceptsSpoils Of War

When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.

Verse ConceptsSoldiers

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?

Verse ConceptsWhat Do You Do?

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

Verse ConceptsSpyingGoing Out And Coming InThose Who Deceived

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.

Verse ConceptsMessengers Sent OutIgnorant Of Facts

And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

Verse ConceptsPlea Of Innocence

So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

Verse ConceptsWhy People Did ThingsKilling Named Individuals

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.

Verse ConceptsGesturesClothingClothSackcloth And AshesPreparation For Burial

And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

Verse ConceptsBereavement, Experience OfMourning The Death Of OthersBurying places

For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.

Verse ConceptsMan's Purposes

And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.

Verse ConceptsdiscouragementLosing Courage

And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.

Verse ConceptsGallowsHangingPunishment, Legal Aspects OfMutilationPoolsDisfigurementSkullsCutting Off Hands And FeetAnother's Burial PlacePeople Hung To DeathKilling Named Individuals

And thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and upon his sandals that were on his feet.

Verse ConceptsBeltsSandalsShedding

And Jehovah shall requite the blood which he shed upon his own head, because he fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, without my father David's knowledge: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.

Verse ConceptsGod Makes Evil ReboundGod Will RequiteIgnorant Of Facts

And Ner was the father of Abner, and Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan and Malchi-shua and Abinadab and Eshbaal.

And, all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, had hallowed, whosoever had hallowed anything, it was under the direction of Shelomoth, and his brethren.

Verse ConceptsSeers

Of the half of Manasseh, in Gilead, Iddo, son of Zechariah. Of Benjamin, Jaasiel, son of Abner.

Thematic Bible



There was a wealthy and influential man named Kish. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the son of Abiel and grandson of Zeror. He belonged to the family of Becorath, a part of the clan of Aphiah.

The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul's uncle Ner. Kish, Saul's father and Ner, Abner's father, were the sons of Abiel.


The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul's uncle Ner.

When Saul saw David going out against the Philistine, he asked Abner the commander of the army: Abner, whose son is this young man? Abner said: By your life, O king, I do not know.

Then David went to the place where Saul camped. David saw the place where Saul and Ner's son Abner, the commander of the army, were lying. Saul was lying in the camp. The troops were camped around him.

David shouted to Saul's troops and to Abner: Abner! Can you hear me? Who is calling to the king? Abner asked.


Some of the plunder taken in battle they dedicated for the repair of the Temple of Jehovah. And everything dedicated by Samuel the seer and by Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner and Joab son of Zeruiah, and all the other dedicated things were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.


Abner arrived in Hebron. Joab took him aside at the gate, as though he wanted to speak privately with him. There he stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner was murdered because he had killed Joab's brother Asahel. When David heard the news, he said: Jehovah knows that my subjects and I are completely innocent of the murder of Abner. Let the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a woman's work or is killed in battle or does not have enough to eat! read more.
Joab and his brother Abishai took revenge and murdered Abner for killing their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon. David told Joab and everyone with him: Show your sorrow by tearing your clothes and wearing sackcloth! Walk in front of Abner's body and cry! David walked behind the coffin on which Abner's body was being carried. Abner was buried in Hebron. David and everyone else stood at the tomb and cried loudly. The king sang a funeral song for Abner: Should Abner die like a godless fool? Your hands were not bound. Your feet were not in fetters. You fell as one falls in front of wicked men. And all the people continued to cry for him. David refused to eat anything the day of the funeral even though people tried to persuade him to eat. David vowed: May God strike me dead if I taste any food or anything else before the sun goes down. All the people understood and approved of everything the king did. That day all the people of Israel knew the king was not responsible for killing Ner's son Abner. The king told his officers: Do you not know that today a leader, a great man, has fallen in Israel? Today, even though I am the anointed king, these men, Zeruiah's sons, are too strong for me to control. May Jehovah repay these wicked men, as their evil deed deserves.


The fighting continued between David's forces and the forces loyal to Saul's family. Abner became more and more powerful among Saul's followers. Saul had a concubine named Rizpah. She was Aiah's daughter. Ishbosheth asked Abner: Why did you have sex with my father's concubine? Ishbosheth's question made Abner very angry. Am I a dog that belongs to Judea? He asked. Until now I have been faithful to your father Saul's family, to his relatives and friends. I did not hand you over to David. But now you charge me with a crime because of this woman. read more.
May God deal with me harshly if I do not help David get all that Jehovah promised him when he said: I Jehovah will transfer the kingship from Saul's family and establish David's throne over Israel and Judah from Dan to Beersheba.' Ishbosheth could not respond to a single word for he was afraid of Abner. Abner sent messengers to David to speak on his behalf. Who owns this country? He asked. Make an agreement with me, he said. Then I will support you and bring all Israel to you. Good! David answered. I will make an agreement with you. But there is one condition: You may not come to see me unless you bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come. David sent messengers to Ishbosheth to give him this message: Give me back my wife Michal! I bought her for the price of a hundred Philistine foreskins. Ishbosheth sent some of his men to take Michal away from her new husband, Paltiel son of Laish. Paltiel followed Michal and the men all the way to Bahurim. He cried all the way. But he went back home after Abner ordered him to leave. Meanwhile, Abner communicated with the leaders of Israel: For some time now you wanted to make David your king. Do it now! This is what Jehovah said about David: 'I will save my people Israel from the Philistines and all their other enemies through my servant David.' Abner also spoke to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went directly to David in Hebron. He told him everything Israel and the entire tribe of Benjamin had approved. Twenty men accompanied Abner to see David at Hebron. David had a feast for Abner and his men. Abner told David: I must go now so that I can gather all Israel for you, Your Majesty. They will make an agreement with you. You will rule over all that your heart desires. Then David dismissed Abner, who left peacefully.


Ner's son Abner, commander of Saul's army, took Saul's son Ishbosheth and brought him to Mahanaim. Abner made him king of Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin, that is, all Israel. Saul's son Ishbosheth was forty years old when he became king of Israel. He ruled for two years. However the tribe of Judah followed David. read more.
In Hebron David was king over the tribe of Judah for seven years and six months. One time Abner and the soldiers of Ishbosheth left Mahanaim and went to Gibeon. At that time Joab the son of Zeruiah was leading David's soldiers. The two groups met at the pool in Gibeon. Abner and his men sat down on one side of the pool and Joab and his men sat on the other side. Abner yelled to Joab: Let some of our best soldiers get up and fight each other! Joab agreed. Twelve of Ishbosheth's men from the tribe of Benjamin got up to fight twelve of David's men. Each one grabbed his opponent by the head. Then he stuck his sword into his opponent's side, and they fell down together. That place in Gibeon is called the Field of Enemies. Fierce fighting broke out that day. In the end, David's men defeated Abner and the men of Israel. Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. So Asahel started chasing Abner. He ran straight for him. Abner looked behind and asked: Are you Asahel? He answered: I am. Abner said: Soldiers are all around us. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself. But Asahel refused to stop. Abner spoke again to Asahel: If you do not turn back, I will have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again. However, Asahel would not turn back. So Abner struck him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear went all the way through and came out of his back. Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who saw Asahel lying dead just stopped and stood still. Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. It was sun down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This hill is near Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. The men of Benjamin rallied behind Abner. They became united as one and stood on the top of a hill. Then Abner called to Joab: Must the sword devour forever? Do you not understand it will be bitter to the end? How long before you command the people to return from chasing their brothers? Joab said: As God lives; if you had not spoken the men would have continued following their brothers. So Joab blew a ram's horn and all the troops stopped. They did not chase or fight Israel anymore. That night Abner and his men marched through the plains. They crossed the Jordan River and passed through the entire Bithron until they came to Mahanaim. Joab returned from chasing Abner. He gathered the troops. Nineteen of David's officers and Asahel were missing. David's men killed three hundred and sixty of the men of Benjamin under Abner's command. They buried Asahel in his father's tomb in Bethlehem. Joab and his men marched all night. They arrived at Hebron at daybreak.


David told Joab and everyone with him: Show your sorrow by tearing your clothes and wearing sackcloth! Walk in front of Abner's body and cry! David walked behind the coffin on which Abner's body was being carried.


Zeruiah's three sons were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was as fast on his feet as a wild gazelle. So Asahel started chasing Abner. He ran straight for him. Abner looked behind and asked: Are you Asahel? He answered: I am. read more.
Abner said: Soldiers are all around us. Stop chasing me and fight one of them! Kill him and take his clothes and weapons for yourself. But Asahel refused to stop. Abner spoke again to Asahel: If you do not turn back, I will have to kill you! Then I could never face your brother Joab again. However, Asahel would not turn back. So Abner struck him in the stomach with the back end of his spear. The spear went all the way through and came out of his back. Asahel fell down and died. Everyone who saw Asahel lying dead just stopped and stood still. Joab and Abishai ran after Abner. It was sun down when they arrived at the hill of Ammah. This hill is near Giah on the road to the wilderness of Gibeon.


References

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Easton

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