1 Samuel 25:2-44: The Story of David and Nabal
The Rich Man Nabal and His Wicked Ways
2-3
There was a man in Maon, whose name was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
Nabal, a rich and wealthy man from the house of Caleb, lived in Maon. He was married to a wise and beautiful woman named Abigail. Unfortunately, Nabal was a cruel and wicked man.
4-5
And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep in Carmel, he decided to send ten young men to greet him and ask for his favor.
6-8
And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
David instructed the young men to greet Nabal in his name and to remind him that David's men had been kind to Nabal's shepherds while they were in Carmel. David asked Nabal to return the favor by showing kindness to him and his men.
Nabal's Refusal and Insult to David
10-11
And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give unto men whom I know not whence they be?
Nabal, in his wickedness, refused David's request and insulted him by asking who David was and implying that he was just another servant who had broken away from his master. Nabal also refused to give David and his men any food or water.
12-13
So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. And David said unto his men, Gird you on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode behind.
David's young men returned and told him about Nabal's refusal and insult. David, in anger, told his men to arm themselves and prepare for battle. David and about four hundred men set out to confront Nabal, leaving two hundred men behind.
Abigail's Wisdom and Intervention
14-16
But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. And the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
One of Nabal's servants told Abigail about how David's men had been kind to them and how Nabal had insulted them. Abigail immediately realized the gravity of the situation and decided to take action.
18-22
Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, And five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
Abigail quickly gathered a large quantity of food and drink and ordered her servants to take it to David and his men. She instructed her servants to go ahead, and she would follow.
23-25
And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
When Abigail saw
