History of Abner

	Revision 3 . . (edit) November 27, 2001 3:40 am by (logged).153.24.xxx [copyedit]
	Revision 2 . . August 21, 2001 9:50 pm by MichaelTinkler [expanding biblical references]
	Revision 1 . . August 21, 2001 1:05 pm by (logged).99.203.xxx [Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia]

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Difference (from prior major revision) (minor diff, author diff)

Changed: 1,16c1,4

ABNER (Hebrew for "father of [or is a light"), in the Bible, first cousin of Saul and commander-in-chief of his army (I Sam. xiv. 50, xx. 25). He is only referred to incidentally in Saul's history (1 Sam. xvii. 55, xxvi. 5), and is not mentioned in the account of the disastrous battle of Gilboa when Saul's power was crushed. Seizing the only surviving son, Ishbaal, he set him up as king over Israel at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan. David, who was accepted as king by Judah alone, was meanwhile reigning at Hebron, and for some time war was carried on between the two parties. 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 Sam. ii. 12).i In the general engagement which followed, Abner was defeated and put to flight. He was closely pursued

Abner (Hebrew for "father of [or is a] light"), in the Bible, first cousin of Saul and commander-in-chief of his army (1 Samuel 14:50, 20:25). He is only referred to incidentally in Saul's history (1 Samuel 17:55, 26:5), and is not mentioned in the account of the disastrous battle of Gilboa when Saul's power was crushed. Seizing the only surviving son, Ishbaal, he set him up as king over Israel at Mahanaim, east of the Jordan. David, who was accepted as king by Judah alone, was meanwhile reigning at Hebron?, and for some time war was carried on between the two parties. 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

Changed: 27,28c15,16

concubines, an alliance which, according to Oriental notions, implied pretensions to the throne (cp. 2 Sam. xvi. 21 sqq.

concubines, an alliance which, according to contemporary notions, implied pretensions to the throne (compare 2 Samuel 16:21 and following).