Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ABNER

(Heb. ʾăḇnēr)

Saul’s uncle and the commander of his army (1 Sam. 14:50). Abner apparently had at least one son, a certain Jaasiel, who led the tribe of Benjamin during David’s reign (1 Chr. 27:21).

While Saul ruled Israel, Abner may have served as Saul’s personal bodyguard. David once chastised Abner for failing to protect Saul while they slept (1 Sam. 26:13-25). After Saul’s death, Abner instigated the accession of Saul’s son Ishbaal to the throne of Israel and spearheaded the transfer of the capital from Gibeah to Mahanaim in Transjordan (2 Sam. 2:8, 12). During Ishbaal’s short reign of two years, Abner apparently still served as commander of the army, but he seems to have had much more power. When the leadership of Ishbaal was failing, Abner sought to take over by acquiring one of Saul’s concubines, Rizpah (access to the royal harem indicated one’s rightful claim to the throne). When confronted by Ishbaal about his machinations, Abner defected to David. Abner’s motivations are uncertain, but perhaps he believed he had a greater chance to gain the throne of Israel by allying with David. He also might have expected to replace Joab as commander of David’s army.

After visiting David in Hebron to arrange David’s accession to the throne of Israel, Abner was murdered by Joab to avenge the death of his brother Asahel, whom Abner had killed, purportedly in self-defense following the skirmish at Gibeon (2 Sam. 2:18-28). Joab’s secondary motivation may have been the threat that Abner posed to Joab’s position in David’s army. Although the text does not implicate David in Abner’s murder, some scholars believe that he may have ordered it since 2 Samuel tries so hard to say otherwise.

Paul S. Ash

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ABNER

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)