Commander of Saul's army · United monarchy
Abner in the Bible
Saul's cousin and general, Abner keeps Ish-bosheth on the throne after Saul's death, then negotiates to bring Israel over to David. Joab murders him at the gate of Hebron in revenge, and David mourns him publicly.
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Verses mentioning Abner
65 occurrences across 53 verses in the King James Version.
- 2 Samuel 3:7
And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:8
Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:9
So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:11
And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:12
And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:16
And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned. along: Heb. going and weeping
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:17
And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you: in times: Heb. both yesterday and the third day
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:19
And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:20
So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:21
And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:22
And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:23
When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:24
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:25
Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:26
And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:27
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. quietly: or, peaceably
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:28
And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner: blood: Heb. bloods
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:30
So Joab and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:31
And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier. bier: Heb. bed
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:32
And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:33
And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
Read in context - 2 Samuel 3:37
For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 4:1
And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
Read in context - 2 Samuel 4:12
And David commanded his young men, and they slew them, and cut off their hands and their feet, and hanged them up over the pool in Hebron. But they took the head of Ishbosheth, and buried it in the sepulchre of Abner in Hebron.
Read in context - 1 Kings 2:5
Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet. shed: Heb. put
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