But there's more to him than just family ties and political power. According to legend, Abner's mother was none other than the witch of En-dor!

And get this – he wasn't just any ordinary guy. The stories paint him as a giant, a man of almost unbelievable size and strength. Ginzberg, in Legends of the Jews, recounts just how immense he was. Imagine a wall six ells thick – that’s about nine feet! – and it would be easier to move that wall than one of Abner's feet! Talk about a gentle giant… or not so gentle, perhaps.

There's even this incredible tale of David, the future king, accidentally finding himself between Abner's feet while he was asleep. He was nearly crushed! It was only by sheer luck that Abner shifted, allowing David to escape. Can you imagine the fear?

Abner himself was clearly aware of his immense power. Legend has it that he once boasted, "If only I could seize the earth at some point, I should be able to shake it!" Now, that's confidence, wouldn't you say?

Even in his final moments, mortally wounded by Joab, Abner's strength was terrifying. He grabbed Joab so hard it was like crushing a ball of yarn, according to the legends. He was ready to end Joab right then and there, but the people intervened. They pleaded with Abner, fearing that killing Joab would leave them vulnerable to the Philistines.

"What can I do?" Abner supposedly cried out, "He was about to extinguish my light!" It’s a powerful image, isn't it? The moment of death, facing your killer. The people urged him to "Commit thy cause to the true Judge." So, Abner released his grip on Joab, and instantly fell dead. The legend says God decided against him.

But why? What led to this dramatic end?

Well, it all goes back to Joab's desire to avenge the death of his brother, Asahel. Asahel, known for his superhuman speed – so swift that he could run through a field without even disturbing the wheat, according to the legends – had been the aggressor. He sought to kill Abner. Abner argued he acted in self-defense.

Before striking the fatal blow, Joab even held a sort of impromptu court, questioning Abner's actions. "Why didn't you just wound Asahel?" Joab demanded, "Why did you have to kill him?"

Abner claimed he couldn't have done it. Joab, incredulous, retorted, "If you were able to strike him under the fifth rib – a fatal blow! – are you telling me you couldn't have made him harmless with a lesser wound and saved his life?" It's a powerful question, forcing us to consider the complexities of self-defense and the weight of choices made in the heat of the moment.

So, what are we left with? A giant of a man, a witch's son, caught in a web of loyalty, revenge, and divine judgment. Abner's story, as told in Legends of the Jews, isn't just a simple battle narrative. It's a reminder that even the mightiest among us are subject to the same moral dilemmas and ultimate accountability. It makes you wonder: how would we act in such a situation? What choices would we make?