Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army
Abner, Saul's commander
Abner usually at by Saul at the table, at a seat by the wall. (1 Samuel 20:25)
He accompanied Saul and his army of 3000 to pursue David when the Ziphites told Saul David was hiding on the hill of Hachilah. David came in the night in their camp when the king slept with his commander and army all around and took the spear that was at Saul's head and the jar of water. The LORD had sent a deep sleep, so no one noticed.
From a great space, David called to Abner that he had not protected the LORD's anointed and deserved death. His spear and jar of water are missing. Saul recognized David and they resolved the conflict for now. Saul blessed him, and David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. (1 Samuel 26)
Civil War between David and Ish-Bosheth
Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel, while David was anointed king over the house of Judah in Hebron.
Abner the son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul went from Mahanaim to Gibeon, and Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David met them at the pool of Gibeon. They each stayed on their own side. Abner asked Joab that the young men arise and compete, and Joab agreed. 12 men from each side arose and each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent's side, so they fell down together. So that place was called Helkath-hazzurim. The battle was very fierce. The swift Asahel pursued Abner, and when Abner recognized him, he tried to persuade him to pursue another and plunder then finally with a threat. Failing, he struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back, killing him. All who came to Asahel's place and stood still. Zeruiah's other sons, Joab and Abishai pursued Abner until the sun was going down, and the people of Benjamin prepared to take a stand with Abner on the hill of Ammah. Abner called to Joab, "Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?" Joab confirms his words had he not spoken. Joab blew the trumpet, and Abner returned to Mahanaim after going through the Arabah all night. Joab's side lost 19, while Abner lost 360.
(2 Samuel 2)
Abner was moving towards Judah intentionally, and David had Joab meet him. He was not satisfied with 11 tribes. (2 Samuel 2 (Part 2) Bible Study | Pastor Daniel Batarseh - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFBiAQvuk_Y&list=PLZLapfsgGtr9tjbTj8ReNYN0QSrAUHfSW&index=30)
The Fall of Abner
Abner was making himself strong in the house of Saul. Ish-bosheth asked why he went into his father's concubine, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. (The Bible doesn't make it clear whether this is a true accusation.) Abner was very angry at this - "Am I a dog's head of Judah? To this day I keep showing steadfast love to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not given you into the hand of David. And yet you charge me today with a fault concerning a women. God do so to Abner and more also, if I do not accomplish for David what the LORD has sworn to him, to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba." David agreed, so long as he first brings him Michal. Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel the son of Laish, who followed her, weeping, all the way to Bahurim. Abner told him return, so he did.
Then Abner conferred with the elders of Israel, telling them to bring about their wish for David to be king, for the LORD promised, "By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from the hand of all their enemies." He also spoke to Benjamin and brought their word to David at Hebron. Abner came with 20 men, and David made a feast for them, and Abner told him he will go gather all Israel to him to make a covenant and have him rule. David sent Abner away in peace.
David did not know, but Joab sent messengers after Abner and brought him back from the cistern of Sirah. When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him privately, and there he struck him in the stomach so that he died. Joab and Abishai killed Abner to avenge Asahel.
When David heard of it, he said, "I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD for the blood of Abner the son of Ner. May it fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house, and may the house of Joab never be without one who has a discharge or who is leprous or who holds a spindle or who falls by the sword or who lacks bread!" David told Joab and all the people with him to tear their clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier. They buried him at Hebron.
When David demonstrates his innocence at the funeral of Abner, he mourned and fasted and lamented:
- Should Abner die as a fool dies?
- Your hands were not bound; / your feet were not fettered;
- as one falls before the wicked / you have fallen.
David also told his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? And I was gentle today, though anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are more severe than I. The LORD repay the evildoer according to his wickedness!"
(2 Samuel 3)
Ish-bosheth's head was buried in the tomb of Abner in Hebron. (2 Samuel 4:12)
Abner Avenged
For killing Abner, David's final advice for Solomon included executing Joab. When King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada to strike Joab down, he hoped Abner's blood was coming back on the head of Joab and his descendants forever. (1 Kings 2:5-6,28-35)