ABNER
- Easton's
- Nave's
- Torrey's
| EASTON'S BIBLE DICTIONARY |
father of light; i.e., "enlightening",
the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul's army (1 Samuel 14:50; 17:55; 20:25). He first introduced David to the court of Saul
after the victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 17:57). After the death of Saul, David
was made king over Judah, and reigned in Hebron. Among the other tribes there
was a feeling of hostility to Judah; and Abner, at the head of Ephraim,
fostered this hostility in the interest of the house of Saul, whose son
Ish-bosheth he caused to be proclaimed king (2 Samuel 2:8). A state of war existed between
these two kings. A battle fatal to Abner, who was the leader of Ish-boseth's
army, was fought with David's army under Joab at Gibeon (2 Samuel 2:12). Abner, escaping from the field,
was overtaken by Asahel, who was "light of foot as a wild roe," the brother of
Joab and Abishai, whom he thrust through with a back stroke of his spear (2 Samuel 2:18-32).
Being rebuked by Ish-bosheth for the impropriety of taking to wife Rizpah, who
had been a concubine of King Saul, he found an excuse for going over to the
side of David, whom he now professed to regard as anointed by the Lord to reign
over all Israel. David received him favourably, and promised that he would have
command of the armies. At this time Joab was absent from Hebron, but on his
return he found what had happened. Abner had just left the city; but Joab by a
stratagem recalled him, and meeting him at the gate of the city on his return,
thrust him through with his sword (2 Samuel 3:27,31-39; 4:12. Compare 1 Kings 2:5,32). David lamented in pathetic words
the death of Abner, "Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen
this day in Israel?" (2 Samuel 3:33-38
)
| TORREY'S "THE NEW TOPICAL TEXTBOOK" (additional material included) |
CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE