ABNER (lb'ner), (Heb. ab-nare', father of light, i. e., enlightener, I Sam. xiv:5o).
Abner was the son of Ner, who was the brother of Kish, Saul's father (I Chron. ix:36). He was, therefore, Saul's full cousin, and was made by him the commander-in-chief of his army(' Sans. xvii:55; xx:25; xxvi:5; t Chron. xxvi:28), B. C. 103o.
(1) Under Saul. He does not come much before us until after the death of Saul B. C. moo. Then the experience which he had acquired, and the character for ability and de cision which he had established in Israel, enabled him to uphold the falling house of Saul for seven years, and he might probably have done so longer if it had suited his views. It was generally known that David had been divinely nominated to suc ceed Saul on the throne; when, therefore, that monarch was slain in the battle of Gilboa, David was made king over his own tribe of Judah, and reigned in Hebron. In the other tribes an influ ence adverse to Judah existed, and was controlled chiefly by the tribe of Ephraim. Abner, with great decision, availed himself of this state of feeling, and turned it to the advantage of the house to which he belonged, of which he was now the most important surviving member.
(2) Under Ishbosheth. He did not, however, venture to propose himself as king, but took Ish bosheth, a surviving son of Saul, whose known im becility had excused his absence from the fatal fight in which his father and brothers perished, and made him king over the tribes, and ruled in his name (2 Sam. ii :8). This event appears to have occurred five years after Saul's death (2 Sam. ii:io). Ishbosheth reigned in Mahanaim, be yond Jordan, and David in Hebron. A sort of desultory warfare arose between them, in which the advantage appears to have been always on the side of David (2 Sam. ii :I). The only one of the engagements of which we have a particular account is that which ensued when Joab, David's general, and Abner, met and fought at Gibeon (2 Sam. ii :12 sq.).
(3) Slays Asahel. Abner was beaten and fled for his life, but was pursued by Asahel, the brother of Joab, and Abishai, who was 'swift of foot as a wild roe.' Abner, dread ing a blood-feud with Joab, entreated Asahel, but in vain, to desist from the pursuit, and finding that his life was in danger, he at length ran hls pursuer through the body (2 Sam. n:8-32). This, according to the law of honor which still pre vails in the East, put a strife of blood between Joah and Abner. (See BLOOD-REVENGE.) As time went on, Abner, probably rendered arrogant and presumptuous by the conviction that he was the only remaining prop of the house of Saul, took to his own harem a woman who had been a concubine wife of Saul (2 Sam. iii :7). This act, from the
ideas connected with the harem of a deceased king, was not only a great impropriety, but was open to the suspicion of a political design, which Abner may very possibly have entertained.
(4) Breaks with Ishbosheth. A mild buke from Ishbosheth, however, enraged him so much that he immediately declared his intention henceforth to abandon his cause and to devote himself to the interests of David. Accordingly, after explaining his views to the elders of the tribes which still adhered to the house of Saul, he repaired to Hebron with authority to make certain overtures to David on their behalf (2 Sam. iii:12,sq.).
(5) Joins David. lie was received with great attention and respect: and David even thought it prudent to promise that he should still have the chief command of the armies, when the desired union of the two kingdoms took place. Joab, David's general, happened to be absent at the time, but he returned to Hebron just as Abner had left it. " He speedily understood what had passed, and his dread of the superior influence which such a man as Abner might establish with David quickened his remembrance of the ven geance which his brother's blood required.
(6) Slain by Joab. Unknown to the king, but apparently in his name, he sent a message after Abner to call him back, and as he returned. Joab met him at the gate, and, leading him aside, as if to confer privately with him, suddenly thrust his sword into his body (B. C. to46). The lamen tations of David, the public mourning which he ordered, and the funeral honors which were paid to the remains of Abner (2 Sam. iv:12), the king himself following the bier as chief mourner. exonerated him in public opinion from having been privy to this assassination (2 Sam. iii :31-39; Comp. 1 Kings ii :32). As for Joab, his privi lege as a blood-avenger must to a great extent have justified his treacherous act in the opinion of the people, and that, together with his influ ence with the army, screened him from punish ment (2 Sam. iii '6-39).
(7) David's Lament. David's short but em phatic lament over Abner (2 Sam. may be rendered, with stricter adherence to the form of the original, as follows: 'Should Abner die as a villian dies? Thy bands—not hound, Thy feet—not brought into fetters: As one falls before the sons of wickedness, fellest thou!'