Abner (Easton)

DIC dictionary-entry · status:draft · license:PD

Father of light; i.e., 'enlightening', the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul's army (1Samuel 14:50; 17:55; 20:25). He first introduced David to the court of Saul after the victory over Goliath (1Samuel 17:57). After the death of Saul, David was made king over Judah, and"> StudyL ı ght .org Plug in, Turn on and Be En light ened! Not Yet a Member? Click to Sign Up Now! --> --> Bible Study Tools Lang uage Tools Study Lib rary Hist orical Writings Pas toral Resources Per sonal Resources Site Resources Lectionary Calendar Saturday, June 6th, 2026 the Week of Proper 4 / Ordinary 9 video advertismenet advertisement advertisement advertisement Attention! Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause! Click here to learn more! Home » Bible Dictionaries » Easton's Bible Dictionary » Letter A Bible Dictionaries Abner Easton's Bible Dictionary Search for… Enter query below: or A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Prev Entry Ablution Next Entry Abomination Resource Toolbox Print Article Additional Links Concordances Nave Topical Bible Abner Thompson Chain Reference Abner Dictionaries American Tract Society Abner Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Abner Chabad Knowledge Base Abner ben Ner Easton's Bible Dictionary Abner Fausset Bible Dictionary Abner Holman Bible Dictionary Abner Hitchcock Bible Names Abner Hastings' BibleDictionary Abner Morrish Bible Dictionary Abner 1910 New Catholic Dictionary Abner Hawker's Poor Man's Dictionary Abner People's Bible Dictionary Abner Smith Bible Dictionary Abner Watson's Theological Dictionary Abner Encyclopedias 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica Abner Abner Doubleday International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Abner Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia Abner McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia Abner Abner (Rabbi) Bayley, Abner (only first 3 shown) The Nuttall Encyclopedia Abner The Catholic Encyclopedia Abner The Jewish Encyclopedia Abner Abner (2) Abner of Burgos (only first 3 shown) Lexicons אֲבִינֵר , אַבְנֵר Father of light; i.e., "enlightening", the son of Ner and uncle of Saul. He was commander-in-chief of Saul's army (1Samuel 14:50; 17:55; 20:25). He first introduced David to the court of Saul after the victory over Goliath (1Samuel 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 (2Samuel 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 (2Samuel 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 (2Samuel 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 (2Samuel 3:27,31-39; 4:12. Compare 1Kings 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?" (2Samuel 3:33-38.)

Source

• part_of source-manifest/easton — Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)