The circumstances under which Abner was placed served to develop his real character and showed him to be ambitious and unprincipled. He had been intimately associated with Saul and had been influenced by the spirit of the king to despise the man whom God had chosen to reign over Israel. His hatred had been increased by the cutting rebuke that David had given him at the time when the cruse of water and the spear of the king had been taken from the side of Saul as he slept in the camp. He remembered how David had cried in the hearing of the king and the people of Israel, "Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? . . . This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the 699 Lord liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed." This reproof had rankled in his breast, and he determined to carry out his revengeful purpose and create division in Israel, whereby he himself might be exalted. He employed the representative of departed royalty to advance his own selfish ambitions and purposes. He knew that the people loved Jonathan. His memory was cherished, and Saul's first successful campaigns had not been forgotten by the army. With determination worthy a better cause, this rebellious leader went forward to carry out his plans.

Nu kom Abners virkelige sindelag til fuld udfoldelse, og han viste sig at være ærgerrig og blottet for principper. Han havde haft nær tilknytning til Saul og var blevet påvirket af kongens indstilling, så at også han var kommet til at foragte den mand, som Gud havde valgt til konge over Israel. Hans had til David voksede endnu mere efter den bidende irettesættelse, han fik af ham den dag, David fjernede vandkrukken og spydet fra kongens side, mens denne lå og sov i lejren. Han kunne ikke glemme, at David havde råbt i kongens og det israelitiske folks nærværelse: "Er du ikke en mand? Og hvem er din lige i Israel? Hvorfor vogtede du da ikke din herre kongen? Der har du ikke båret dig vel ad ! Så sandt Herren lever: I er dødsens, I, som ikke vogtede Eders herre, Herrens salvede!" Denne irettesættelse blev ved at nage i hans bryst, og nu besluttede han at tage hævn og skabe splittelse i Israel for at ophøje sig selv. Han benyttede en repræsentant fra det forrige kongehus til at fremme sine egne egenkærlige ambitioners planer. Han vidste, at folket elskede Jonatan. Hans minde blev holdt højt i ære, og hæren havde heller ikke glemt Sauls første vellykkede krige. Nu begyndte denne oprørsleder at gennemføre sine planer med en ildhu, der var en bedre sag værdig.