“elders of Israel.” These would have been elders from the various tribes of Israel who were recognized as leaders by their respective tribes.

“Even yesterday, even before.” Abner uses language that reminds the people that it was not that long ago they loved David and followed him (1 Sam. 18:16). The Hebrew text, which is idiomatic and choppy in English, is smoothed out in most English versions, but the way Abner speaks and the force of it seems important to present.