Father of King Saul's military commander Abner and uncle of King Saul.
About Ner
A man from the tribe of Benjamin. He was the father of Abner and brother of Kish. This would make Ner the uncle of King Saul (1 Samuel 14:51; 26:5; 2 Samuel 2:8; 1 Kings 2:32; 1 Chronicles 26:28).
However, the Bible gives different information about Ner's family relationships. In one passage, the Bible says that Ner's father was named Abiel (1 Samuel 14:51). But other passages list Ner as one of the sons of Jeiel, though these readings are difficult to interpret (1 Chronicles 8:29–30; 9:35–36). In other parts of the Bible, Ner is listed as the father of Kish, who was the father of Saul (8:33; 9:39). This would make Ner the grandfather of Saul.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Abiel (Grandfather of King Saul), Maacah (1 Chronicles 8:29)
- Siblings 9
- Kish, Abdon (Son of Jeiel), Zur (1 Chronicles 8:30), Baal, Nadab (1 Chronicles 8:30), Gedor, Ahio (1 Chronicles 8:31), Zecher, Mikloth
- Child
- Abner
- Nieces & Nephews 2
- Saul (Son of Kish), Shimeah
Key References
His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
All Scripture References (14)
1 Samuel (4)
His wife’s name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of his army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner.
Saul’s father Kish and Abner’s father Ner were sons of Abiel.
Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.
And David shouted to the troops and to Abner son of Ner, “Will you not answer me, Abner?” “Who are you who calls to the king?” Abner replied.
2 Samuel (6)
Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim,
One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.”
Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.”
Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner.
So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.
1 Kings (2)
Moreover, you know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether, the two commanders of the armies of Israel. He killed them in peacetime to avenge the blood of war. He stained with the blood of war the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet.
The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
1 Chronicles (2)
Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
Everything that had been dedicated by Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah, along with everything else that was dedicated, was under the care of Shelomith and his brothers.