Ner

Ner was a Benjamite, the son of Abiel, and the father of Abner, the commander of Saul's army, making him the uncle of King Saul himself (1 Samuel 14:50–51; 1 Chronicles 8:33; 9:39). His family—including Saul, Jonathan, and Abner—dominated the military and political life of Israel during the early monarchy. Ner's son Abner served as the real power behind the brief reign of Ish-bosheth after Saul's death, prolonging the civil war with David before Abner was treacherously killed by Joab (2 Samuel 3:6–27).