The document examines the life and death of Abner, questioning whether he died foolishly as suggested in 2 Samuel 3:33. It outlines his characteristics as a committed captain, conniving cohort, humiliated hero, and convenient convert, culminating in his violent death at the hands of Joab. The reflection emphasizes the consequences of folly and the sobering reality of death in evaluating one's life choices.

1. Slide 1
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
2SAM 3:33
…DIED ABNER AS A FOOL DIETH?
2Sam 3:33
…Died Abner as a fool dieth?
Death is the sobering elixir that
brings all human folly into
perspective.
Consider the life of Abner.
If a man will not evaluate his
own folly in this life; after his
death men question-
Died he as a fool?
A study of the life of Abner will
reveal the fool that threatens to
master every man.
Prov 22:15
15) Foolishness is bound in the
heart of a child; but the rod of
correction shall drive it far from
him.
Slide 2
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
1. THE COMMITTED CAPTAIN
• The Committed Captain
1Sam 17:55
55) And when Saul saw David go
forth against the Philistine, he
said unto Abner, the captain of
the host, Abner, whose son is this
youth?And Abner said, As thy
soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.
1Sam 26:15
15) And David said to Abner, Art
not thou a valiant man? and who
is like to thee in Israel? wherefore
then hast thou not kept thy lord
the king? for there came one of

2. the people in to destroy the king
thy lord.
Prov 7:22
He goeth after her straightway,
as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or
as a fool to the correction of the
stocks;
Slide 3
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
1. THECOMMITTEDCAPTAIN
2. THE CONNIVING COHORT
• The Committed Captain
2. The ConnivingCohort
Makes Ishbosheth king
2Sam 2:8-9
8) But Abner the son of Ner,
captain of Saul's host, took
Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and
brought him over to Mahanaim;
9) And made him king over
Gilead, and over the Ashurites,
and over Jezreel, and over
Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and
over all Israel.
Prov 28:26
He that trusteth in his own heart
is a fool: but whoso walketh
wisely, he shall be delivered.

3. Slide 4
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
1. THECOMMITTEDCAPTAIN
2. THECONNIVINGCOHORT
3. THE HUMILIATED HERO
• The Committed Captain
2. The Conniving Cohort
• The Humiliated Hero
Defeated by Joab
2Sam 2:14
14) And Abner said to Joab, Let
the young men now arise, and
play before us. And Joab said, Let
them arise.
Prov 10:23
It is as sport to a fool to do
mischief: but a man of
understanding hath wisdom.
Slide 5
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
1. THECOMMITTEDCAPTAIN
2. THECONNIVINGCOHORT
3. THEHUMILIATEDHERO
4. THE CONVENIENT CONVERT
• The Committed Captain
2. The Conniving Cohort
• The Humiliated Hero
• The Convenient Convert
Revolt of Revenge
2Sam 3:7-8
7) And Saul had a concubine,
whose name was Rizpah, the
daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth
said to Abner, Wherefore hast
thou gone in unto my father's
concubine?
8) Then was Abner very wroth for
the words of Ishbosheth, and
said, Am I a dog's head, which
against Judah do shew kindness
this day unto the house of Saul
thy father, to his brethren, and to
his friends, and have not
delivered thee into the hand of
David, that thou chargest me to

4. day with a fault concerning this
woman?
Prov 10:8
The wise in heart will receive
commandments: but a prating
fool shall fall.
2Sam 3:11
11) And he could not answer
Abner a word again, because he
feared him.
Prov 14:16
A wise man feareth, and
departeth from evil: but the fool
rageth, and is confident.
2Sam 3:12
And Abner sent messengers to
David on his behalf, saying,
Whose is the land? saying also,
Make thy league with me, and,
behold, my hand shall be with
thee, to bring about all Israel
unto thee.
Eccl 4:5-6
The fool foldeth his hands
together, and eateth his own
flesh.
6 Better is an handful with
quietness, than both the hands
full with travail and vexation of
spirit.

5. Slide 6
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
1. THECOMMITTEDCAPTAIN
2. THECONNIVINGCOHORT
3. THEHUMILIATEDHERO
4. THECONVENIENTCONVERT
5. DEATH AT THE DOORSTEP OF
DELIVERANCE
• The Committed Captain
2. The Conniving Cohort
• The Humiliated Hero
• The Convenient Convert
• Death at the Doorstep of
Deliverance
Killed by Joab
2Sam 3:27
27) And when Abner was
returned to Hebron, Joab took
him aside in the gate to speak
with him quietly, and smote him
there under the fifth rib, that he
died, for the blood of Asahel his
brother.
Prov 26:11
As a dog returneth to his vomit,
so a fool returneth to his folly.
1Sam 26:15
And David said to Abner, Art not
thou a valiant man? and who is
like to thee in Israel? wherefore
then hast thou not kept thy lord
the king? for there came one of
the people in to destroy the king
thy lord.

6. Slide 7
Died Abner as a fool dieth?
1. THECOMMITTEDCAPTAIN
2. THECONNIVINGCOHORT
3. THEHUMILIATEDHERO
4. THECONVENIENTCONVERT
5. DEATHAT THEDOORSTEPOFDELIVERANCE
6. KIND CONDEMNATION
• The Committed Captain
2. The Conniving Cohort
• The Humiliated Hero
• The Convenient Convert
• Death at the Doorstep of
Deliverance
• Kind Condemnation
David Laments
2Sam 3:33-34
33) And the king lamented over
Abner, and said, Died Abner as a
fool dieth?
34) Thy hands were not bound,
nor thy feet put into fetters: as a
man falleth before wicked men, so
fellest thou. And all the people
wept again over him.
Prov 26:1
As snow in summer, and as rain
in harvest, so honour is not
seemly for a fool.