AB'NER, the son of Ner, and uncle of Saul and commander of his army. After Saul's death, the tribe of Judah recognized David, while Abner prevailed upon the other tribes to recognize Saul's son, Ishbosheth. David sent his army, under Joab, into the field, and A. was defeated. In his flight, A. being hotly pursued by Asahel, turned and slew him. According to usage, Joab, as next of kin to Asahel, became the avenger of blood. Afterwards A. went over to David, who promised to make him chief of the armies on the reunion of the two kingdoms; but A. was killed by Joab and his brother Abishai. Probably not only the avenging of Asahel, but jealousy lest A. should rise above him, moved Joab to the slaying.
ABO (pronounced Obo), the chief t. of the government of Abo, in Finland, now belonging to the Russian empire. is situated on the river Aurajokki, near its embouchure in the gulf of Bothnia; pop. '75, 21,794. The town was founded by the Swedes in
1157, and remained the capital of Finland until 1819. In the year 1827 a great part of the town, including the university buildings, was destroyed by fire, and consequently the university was removed to IIelsingfors, now the capital.—The Peace of Abo (1743), between Sweden and Russia, put an end to the war commenced by Sweden, under French instigation, in 1741. In this war Russia had gained possession of the whole of Finland through the misconduct of the Swedish generals. In this treaty the river Kymene was made the boundary between the territories of Sweden and Russia; but by another peace, concluded in 1809, the whole of Finland, as far as the Tomes, was ceded to Russia.—The government of Abo-Bjorneborg has an area of 9450 sq.m., and a pop. of '70, 310,159.