Difference between revisions of "Abner" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Biblical data== | ==Biblical data== | ||
| − | Abner first enters the biblical narrative in 1 Samuel 14, where he is introduced as "the commander of Saul's army" and the son of Saul's uncle Ner. 1 Chron. 8:29-33, implies that he was Saul's uncle, with Ner being Saul's grandfather. In any case, the name Abner means " | + | Abner first enters the biblical narrative in 1 Samuel 14, where he is introduced as "the commander of Saul's army" and the son of Saul's uncle Ner. 1 Chron. 8:29-33, implies that he was Saul's uncle, with Ner being Saul's grandfather. In any case, the name Abner means "(my) father (is) Ner," but can also be translated "(my) father (is) light," or even "father (of) light." |
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| + | Saul and his son Jonathan have already engaged in several important battles against the Philistines before Abner is introduced, but it may be assumed that he was involved in some these. The text also mentions that "whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service," and it may be inferred that one of Abner's roles was to conscript soldiers on Saul's behalf. | ||
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| + | By the next time Abner appears on the scene, Saul has already been rejected by God, as a result of Saul's failure to annihilate the Amalekites. Abner's role in this story is tantalizingly missing. In 1 Kings 17, it is to Abner that Saul turns to discover the identity of the young David, who has just slain Goliath. Abner confesses that he has no and is sent by Saul to find out. He returns with David, who still holding the giant's head, and David identifies himself as the son of Jesse of Bethlehem. | ||
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| + | David soon emerges as the greatest of Saul's warriors, while Abner is portrayed sitting by the king's side (1 Kings 20:25) or sleeping by his side in camp (1 Samuel 26:5) rather than actively engaged in combat. The portrayal, of course, is written by sources loyal to David and not Saul, so it is likely that Abner's role was something greater than this. | ||
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| + | In an episode where David steals Saul's spear while Saul is asleep, David taunts Abner for failing in his duty: "You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord's anointed." 1 Samuel 26:15-16 | ||
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| + | In the intervening years, David flees from Saul and joins forces for the time being with the Philistines, the mortal enemies of Israel and Saul. In all of Saul's many military exploits—even the crucial Battle of Gilboa against the Philistines in which Saul and Jonathan lose their lives—Abner is hardly mentioned, although his role must have been great. | ||
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| + | ===Abner and Ishbosheth== | ||
| + | After Saul's death at Gilboa, however, the biblical writers give Abner greater credit. It is he who rallies the Israelites to the cause of Saul's surviving son Ishbosheth. David, meanwhile, leaves the Philistines and reigns at Hebron over the tribe of Judah. Abner brings Ishbosheth to the town of Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, where he rules over "Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel—a territory much larger and more populated than David's single-tribe kingdom of Judah. | ||
The only engagement between the rival factions which is told at length is noteworthy, inasmuch as it was preceded by an encounter at [[Gibeon]] between twelve chosen men from each side, in which the whole twenty-four seem to have perished (2 Samuel 2:12). In the general engagement which followed, Abner was defeated and put to flight. He was closely pursued by [[Asahel]], brother of [[Joab]], who is said to have been "light of foot as a wild roe" (2 Samuel 2:18). As Asahel would not desist from the pursuit, though warned, Abner was compelled to slay him in self-defence. This originated a deadly [[feud]] between the leaders of the opposite parties, for Joab, as next of kin to Asahel, was by the law and custom of the country the avenger of his blood. | The only engagement between the rival factions which is told at length is noteworthy, inasmuch as it was preceded by an encounter at [[Gibeon]] between twelve chosen men from each side, in which the whole twenty-four seem to have perished (2 Samuel 2:12). In the general engagement which followed, Abner was defeated and put to flight. He was closely pursued by [[Asahel]], brother of [[Joab]], who is said to have been "light of foot as a wild roe" (2 Samuel 2:18). As Asahel would not desist from the pursuit, though warned, Abner was compelled to slay him in self-defence. This originated a deadly [[feud]] between the leaders of the opposite parties, for Joab, as next of kin to Asahel, was by the law and custom of the country the avenger of his blood. | ||
Revision as of 20:17, 2 May 2008
Abner (Biblical Hebrew for "father of [or is a] light"), was the first cousin of the Israelite King Saul and commander-in-chief of his army (1 Samuel 14:50, 20:25). After Sauls' death Abner supported the king's heir, Ishboseth as king as Israel at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan. David, who at this time was accepted as king by Judah alone, was meanwhile reigning at Hebron. For several years Abner continued to support Ishbosheth's claim to the throne until a dispute over Abner's designs on on of Saul's concubines led to a falling out between the two leaders. Abner then went over the David's side in the civil war, delivering David's former wife Michal in the bargain.
Abner promised David to rally additional northern support, but was slain by David's own commander, Joab before he could do so. David publicly disassociated himself from Joab's deed but did not otherwise punish him. Abner was given an honorable funeral at Hebron. Isbhoseth, meanwhile did not survive long after Abner's death, being assassinated by two of his own men, leaving David the sole serious claimant to the throne of Israel.
Biblical data
Abner first enters the biblical narrative in 1 Samuel 14, where he is introduced as "the commander of Saul's army" and the son of Saul's uncle Ner. 1 Chron. 8:29-33, implies that he was Saul's uncle, with Ner being Saul's grandfather. In any case, the name Abner means "(my) father (is) Ner," but can also be translated "(my) father (is) light," or even "father (of) light."
Saul and his son Jonathan have already engaged in several important battles against the Philistines before Abner is introduced, but it may be assumed that he was involved in some these. The text also mentions that "whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service," and it may be inferred that one of Abner's roles was to conscript soldiers on Saul's behalf.
By the next time Abner appears on the scene, Saul has already been rejected by God, as a result of Saul's failure to annihilate the Amalekites. Abner's role in this story is tantalizingly missing. In 1 Kings 17, it is to Abner that Saul turns to discover the identity of the young David, who has just slain Goliath. Abner confesses that he has no and is sent by Saul to find out. He returns with David, who still holding the giant's head, and David identifies himself as the son of Jesse of Bethlehem.
David soon emerges as the greatest of Saul's warriors, while Abner is portrayed sitting by the king's side (1 Kings 20:25) or sleeping by his side in camp (1 Samuel 26:5) rather than actively engaged in combat. The portrayal, of course, is written by sources loyal to David and not Saul, so it is likely that Abner's role was something greater than this.
In an episode where David steals Saul's spear while Saul is asleep, David taunts Abner for failing in his duty: "You're a man, aren't you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn't you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord's anointed." 1 Samuel 26:15-16
In the intervening years, David flees from Saul and joins forces for the time being with the Philistines, the mortal enemies of Israel and Saul. In all of Saul's many military exploits—even the crucial Battle of Gilboa against the Philistines in which Saul and Jonathan lose their lives—Abner is hardly mentioned, although his role must have been great.
=Abner and Ishbosheth
After Saul's death at Gilboa, however, the biblical writers give Abner greater credit. It is he who rallies the Israelites to the cause of Saul's surviving son Ishbosheth. David, meanwhile, leaves the Philistines and reigns at Hebron over the tribe of Judah. Abner brings Ishbosheth to the town of Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, where he rules over "Gilead, Ashuri and Jezreel, and also over Ephraim, Benjamin and all Israel—a territory much larger and more populated than David's single-tribe kingdom of Judah.
The only engagement between the rival factions which is told at length is noteworthy, inasmuch as it was preceded by an encounter at Gibeon between twelve chosen men from each side, in which the whole twenty-four seem to have perished (2 Samuel 2:12). In the general engagement which followed, Abner was defeated and put to flight. He was closely pursued by Asahel, brother of Joab, who is said to have been "light of foot as a wild roe" (2 Samuel 2:18). As Asahel would not desist from the pursuit, though warned, Abner was compelled to slay him in self-defence. This originated a deadly feud between the leaders of the opposite parties, for Joab, as next of kin to Asahel, was by the law and custom of the country the avenger of his blood.
For some time afterwards the war was carried on, the advantage being invariably on the side of David. At length, Ishbaal lost the main prop of his tottering cause by remonstrating with Abner for marrying Rizpah, one of Saul's concubines, an alliance which, according to contemporary notions, implied pretensions to the throne (cf. 2 Samuel 16:21ff.). Abner was indignant at the deserved rebuke, and immediately opened negotiations with David, who welcomed him on the condition that his wife Michal should be restored to him. This was done, and the proceedings were ratified by a feast. Almost immediately after, however, Joab, who had been sent away, perhaps intentionally returned and slew Abner at the gate of Hebron. The ostensible motive for the assassination was a desire to avenge Asahel, and this would be a sufficient justification for the deed according to the moral standard of the time. The conduct of David after the event was such as to show that he had no complicity in the act, though he could not venture to punish its perpetrators (2 Samuel 3:31-39; cf. 1 Kings 2:31ff.).
Abner was buried in Hebron, and his traditional tomb there is still standing.
Soon however, Ishbaal/Ishbosheth was assassinated as he slept, and David became king of the reunited kingdoms.
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