Ner

Ner stands in the genealogy around Saul as the named link connecting Abner the captain to Kish the king's father. The texts treat the relationship two different ways — naming him as father of Abner in Samuel and as father of Kish in Chronicles.

Father of Abner

Samuel's notice of Saul's family identifies Ner as the father of Abner and a kinsman of the king himself: "and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the captain of his host was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle" (1Sa 14:50). The line of relation runs from Saul through Ner to Abner, who commands Saul's army.

Father of Kish

The Chronicler's two parallel rosters place Ner one step earlier in the descent, naming him as the father of Kish: "And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal" (1Ch 8:33). The second list keeps the same chain: "And Ner begot Kish; and Kish begot Saul; and Saul begot Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal" (1Ch 9:39). The genealogical role here makes Ner the grandfather of Saul through Kish.