Lexical Summary
Abner: Abner
Original Word:אַבְנֵר
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Abner
Pronunciation:av-NAYR
Phonetic Spelling:(ab-nare')
KJV: Abner
NASB:Abner, Abner's
Word Origin:[fromH1 (אָב - father) andH5216 (נִיר נִר נֵיר נֵר נֵרָה - lamps)]
1. father of light (i.e. enlightening)
2. Abner, an Israelite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Abner
Or (fully) nabiyner {ab-ee-nare'}; from'ab andniyr; father of light (i.e. Enlightening); Abner, an Israelite -- Abner.
see HEBREW'ab
see HEBREWniyr
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
ab and
nerDefinition"my father is a lamp," an Isr. name
NASB TranslationAbner (62), Abner's (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
my father is Nêr, or
is a lamp compare
2 Samuel 21:17; accusative to Lag
BN 75 = (= ) + = son of Ner; compare ) — so only
1 Samuel 14:50, elsewhere — cousin of Saul, and captain of his host
1 Samuel 14:50,51;
1 Samuel 17:55 (3 t. in verse) + 52 t. 1 & 2Samuel; +
1 Kings 2:5,32;
1 Chronicles 26:28;
1 Chronicles 27:21.
Topical Lexicon
Genealogical Background and Early AppearancesAbner was the son of Ner and the cousin of King Saul, his father Kish and Ner being brothers (1 Samuel 14:50–51). He first steps onto the biblical stage as commander of Saul’s army, already a seasoned warrior when Jonathan struck the Philistine garrison at Geba (1 Samuel 13–14). His proximity to the king is evident when he sits at the royal table (1 Samuel 20:25) and when Saul turns to him for information about the youthful David: “Abner, whose son is this young man?” (1 Samuel 17:55). From the outset, Abner is portrayed as a man of stature who holds the confidence of Israel’s first monarch.
Military Leadership under Saul
Abner’s primary public ministry was martial. During the long Philistine wars he served as field commander, a position that demanded courage, strategic acumen, and personal loyalty to Saul. His vigilance is tested the night David infiltrates the camp and removes Saul’s spear and water jug. David’s ironic question, “Will you not answer, Abner?” and the charge, “You and your men deserve to die, for you have not protected your lord, the LORD’s anointed” (1 Samuel 26:14–16), highlight both Abner’s importance and his failure on that occasion.
Champion of Saul’s House after the King’s Death
When Saul and Jonathan fall on Mount Gilboa, Abner rallies the remaining forces of Benjamin and installs Saul’s surviving son Ish-bosheth in Mahanaim (2 Samuel 2:8–10). For more than two years he sustains a northern kingdom in opposition to David’s reign in Hebron. His leadership includes direct engagement with Joab at the pool of Gibeon where the civil war begins in earnest (2 Samuel 2:12–17). The narrative repeatedly calls Abner “the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army,” underscoring his role as the last bulwark of the collapsing royal house.
Strategic Defector to David
Tension with Ish-bosheth over Saul’s concubine Rizpah (2 Samuel 3:6–11) triggers Abner’s momentous decision to transfer allegiance. As he tells the elders of Israel, “You have sought David as king over you for some time. Now do it!” (2 Samuel 3:17). He then pledges to “bring all Israel” to David (2 Samuel 3:19). Abner’s oath, sealed by a feast in Hebron (2 Samuel 3:20), becomes an essential turning point in Israel’s unification, confirming that the throne belongs to the line of Judah according to divine promise.
Assassination by Joab and David’s Lament
Before Abner can complete his diplomatic mission, Joab murders him in the gateway of Hebron to avenge the blood of his brother Asahel (2 Samuel 3:26–27). David publicly distances himself from the act: “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner” (2 Samuel 3:28). The king’s lament, “Should Abner have died the death of a fool?” (2 Samuel 3:33), and his insistence that all Israel join in mourning safeguard national reconciliation and underscore the sanctity of innocent blood. Solomon later cites Joab’s crime when ordering his execution (1 Kings 2:5, 32), completing the divine demand for retributive justice.
Legacy and Later Mentions
Abner’s personal lineage continues through Jaasiel, who serves as tribal leader of Benjamin in David’s military census (1 Chronicles 27:21). His confiscated spoils are listed among the dedicated treasures for the temple (1 Chronicles 26:28), evidencing the lasting material impact of his campaigns. The Chronicler’s genealogy (1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:36) preserves his family line, recognizing him as one of the great sons of Benjamin.
Theological and Ministry Significance
1. Sovereignty of God: Abner’s rise and fall display God’s overruling hand in Israel’s leadership transitions. Though Abner strives to maintain Saul’s dynasty, he ultimately concedes, “As the LORD has sworn to David, so I will do for him” (2 Samuel 3:9).
2. The Sanctity of Covenant: David receives Abner only after Michal is restored (2 Samuel 3:13–16), demonstrating fidelity to prior commitments.
3. Impartial Justice: David refuses blood-revenge and leaves judgment to the LORD (2 Samuel 4:11–12), an enduring principle for godly governance.
4. Danger of Personal Vengeance: Joab’s act illustrates how private revenge undermines national reconciliation and invites later divine retribution (1 Kings 2:31–33).
Occurrences in Scripture
Approximately sixty-three occurrences span 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles. Concentrations appear in:
•1 Samuel 14, 17, 20, 26 – service under Saul
•2 Samuel 2–4 – civil war and assassination
•2 Samuel 23:37 – list of mighty men (comparative note)
•1 Kings 2 – Solomon’s judgment on Joab
•1 Chronicles 8, 9, 26, 27 – genealogical and administrative notices
Practical Applications for Believers
• Leadership demands integrity; lapses (1 Samuel 26) can endanger those we serve.
• Loyalty must be balanced by allegiance to God’s revealed will; Abner’s eventual support of David models repentance and realignment with divine purpose.
• Vengeance belongs to the LORD; refusing personal retaliation, as David did, preserves unity and invites divine vindication.
• God fulfills His promises despite human intrigue; every believer can rest in the certainty that the Lord’s counsel will stand.
Conclusion
Abner emerges as a complex figure—warrior, statesman, and ultimately a pivotal instrument in Israel’s transition from the troubled house of Saul to the divinely chosen house of David. His account warns against the perils of political rivalry, urges submission to God’s covenantal plan, and affirms that divine justice will prevail even when human motives are mixed.
Forms and Transliterations
אֲבִינֵ֔ר אַבְנֵ֑ר אַבְנֵ֔ר אַבְנֵ֖ר אַבְנֵ֗ר אַבְנֵ֛ר אַבְנֵ֜ר אַבְנֵ֣ר אַבְנֵ֤ר אַבְנֵ֥ר אַבְנֵ֨ר אַבְנֵֽר׃ אַבְנֵר֙ אַבְנֵר֩ אבינר אבנר אבנר׃ וְאַבְנֵ֗ר וְאַבְנֵ֛ר וְאַבְנֵ֣ר וְאַבְנֵ֥ר ואבנר לְאַבְנֵ֑ר לְאַבְנֵ֔ר לְאַבְנֵ֛ר לְאַבְנֵ֨ר לאבנר ’ă·ḇî·nêr ’aḇ·nêr ’ăḇînêr ’aḇnêr aviNer avNer lə’aḇnêr lə·’aḇ·nêr leavNer veavNer wə’aḇnêr wə·’aḇ·nêr
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