Abiel
Ancestor of King Saul and the military commander Abner
Abiel belonged to the tribe of Benjamin and is known through Saul's genealogy as the grandfather of Israel's first king. According to 1 Sam 14:51, he was the father of Kish (Saul's father) and Ner (Abner's father), thus being the ancestor of two central figures in the early Israelite monarchy. The genealogical relationship between Kish and Ner has been a subject of discussion, since Chronicles presents an apparently divergent lineage. Although Abiel does not appear as an acting character in the biblical narrative, his place in the genealogy is significant: through him both the king and his commander-in-chief are connected as cousins, which illuminates the dynastic and military structure of Saul's kingdom.
Family
Key events
Mentioned in Saul's genealogy
Abiel is mentioned as part of Saul's lineage when Saul is introduced as the future king of Israel. He is the father of Kish and the grandfather of Saul. The family is described with the expression 'gibor hayil' (mighty/capable man), suggesting high social status in the tribe of Benjamin.
Father of Ner, Abner's father
Abiel is mentioned as the father of Ner, who was the father of the military commander Abner. This places Abiel as an ancestor of two important figures in Saul's kingdom—the king himself and his supreme commander.
The Kinship between Saul and Abner
Through Abiel, both Saul and Abner are connected as cousins. Abner served as commander under King Saul, and this kinship is explained through their shared grandfather Abiel. This family connection was crucial for the military and political structure of Saul's kingdom.