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1 Samuel 25 meaning explained in AI Summary

This chapter tells the story of David's encounter with Abigail, wife of Nabal, and the consequences of their actions.

Part 1: Nabal's Insult (Verses 1-13):

  • Samuel the prophet dies, and David and his men are in the wilderness of Paran.
  • They hear that Nabal, a wealthy but harsh and foolish man, is shearing his sheep in Carmel.
  • Remembering their protection of Nabal's shepherds, David sends ten young men to greet him and request provisions as a gesture of goodwill.
  • Nabal rudely refuses, insulting David and belittling his status.
  • David, enraged by the insult, prepares to attack Nabal and his household.

Part 2: Abigail's Wisdom (Verses 14-35):

  • One of Nabal's servants, aware of David's previous kindness and fearing his wrath, informs Abigail of the situation.
  • Abigail, described as intelligent and beautiful, acts quickly and decisively.
  • She prepares a large amount of food and drink and sets out to meet David without her husband's knowledge.
  • When she encounters David, she humbles herself, takes full responsibility for her husband's actions, and pleads for mercy.
  • Abigail skillfully appeals to David's sense of justice and his future destiny as king, urging him not to shed blood unnecessarily.

Part 3: David's Restraint and Nabal's Demise (Verses 36-44):

  • David, impressed by Abigail's wisdom and recognizing God's hand in her intervention, relents from his anger and calls off the attack.
  • He accepts Abigail's gifts and blesses her for preventing him from taking revenge.
  • Returning home, Abigail finds Nabal drunk and feasting. She waits until morning to tell him about her encounter with David.
  • Upon hearing the news, Nabal is struck with fear and becomes paralyzed. Ten days later, God strikes him dead.

Part 4: Abigail Becomes David's Wife (Verses 45-44):

  • When David learns of Nabal's death, he sees it as God's judgment and sends messengers to propose marriage to Abigail.
  • Abigail accepts David's proposal and becomes one of his wives, demonstrating her loyalty and strength in a patriarchal society.

Key Themes:

  • God's Providence: Despite the potential for tragedy, God uses Abigail's wisdom and courage to prevent bloodshed and guide events according to His plan.
  • Restraint and Forgiveness: David's initial anger is understandable, but Abigail's intervention reminds him of the importance of restraint and forgiveness.
  • Consequences of Actions: Nabal's rudeness and disrespect have dire consequences, while Abigail's wisdom and quick thinking are rewarded.
  • Women of Strength: Abigail emerges as a central figure, demonstrating intelligence, courage, and leadership in a male-dominated society.

This chapter highlights the importance of wisdom, humility, and seeking God's guidance in the face of adversity. It also showcases the significant role women played even in ancient times.

1 Samuel 25 bible study ai commentary

This chapter illustrates God's providential care, contrasting the foolishness of a man who rejects God's anointed with the wisdom of a woman who recognizes and honors him. Through Abigail's wise intervention, God not only saves a household from destruction but also prevents His chosen king, David, from committing a sin of vengeance that would have stained his future reign. The narrative highlights the themes of wisdom versus folly, restraint versus rage, and God's sovereign hand in directing human affairs and executing perfect justice.

1 Samuel 25 context

This story is set during David's flight from King Saul. David leads a band of about 600 men, acting as a mercenary force protecting local inhabitants in the wilderness regions south of Judah. The cultural backdrop is crucial: sheep-shearing was a festival time, akin to a harvest festival, marked by feasting and generosity. Hospitality and reciprocity for services rendered (like David's protection of Nabal's flocks) were deeply ingrained matters of honor. Nabal's refusal was not just stingy; it was a profound public insult.


1 Samuel 25:1

And Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

In-depth-analysis

  • Samuel's Death: Marks the end of an era. Samuel, the last of the judges and the prophet who anointed both Saul and David, is gone. This creates a leadership vacuum and removes a moral authority who could have mediated between Saul and David.
  • David's Move: Relocating to the wilderness of Paran, a more remote and desolate area, signifies his increasing isolation and vulnerability without Samuel's implicit protection. It is a strategic move further away from Saul's reach.

Bible references

  • Genesis 21:21: "He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt." (Same location where Ishmael lived, a place of exile).
  • Numbers 10:12: "And the people of Israel set out by stages from the wilderness of Sinai. And the cloud settled in the wilderness of Paran." (A significant place in Israel's wilderness wanderings).
  • 1 Samuel 28:3: "Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah..." (Samuel's death is reiterated, framing Saul's later desperate turn to necromancy).

Cross references

Deu 34:8 (Mourning for Moses), Jdg 8:32 (Gideon's burial).


1 Samuel 25:2-3

And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and evil in his deeds. He was a Calebite.

In-depth-analysis

  • Nabal (נָבָל, Nabal): His name literally means "fool" or "senseless." In the Bible, this term denotes not intellectual deficiency but a moral and spiritual deficiency, particularly one who disregards God.
  • Abigail (אֲבִיגַיִל, 'Avigayil): Her name means "my father is joy." She is defined by her wisdom ("discerning") and her appearance, a common biblical pairing.
  • Harsh and Evil: The Hebrew describes Nabal as qasheh (harsh, stubborn) and ra' (evil), a stark description of his character.
  • Calebite: This lineage connects him to the noble Caleb, who was renowned for his faith and loyalty (Numbers 14). Nabal is a disgrace to his heritage, showing faithlessness in the same region where Caleb showed faith. This creates a powerful ironic contrast.

Bible references

  • Psalm 14:1: "The fool (nabal) says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds..." (Defines the spiritual essence of a Nabal).
  • Proverbs 31:30: "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." (Abigail embodies the true wisdom that surpasses mere beauty).
  • Joshua 15:55: Lists Maon and Carmel as towns in the hill country of Judah, confirming the story's geographical setting.

Cross references

Prov 11:22 (beauty without discretion), Job 1:3 (description of a "great" man), Isa 32:5-7 (profile of a fool/churl).

Polemics

The immediate, sharp contrast between Nabal and Abigail establishes a wisdom-versus-folly narrative. Nabal is the epitome of the wicked rich man who trusts in his wealth and denies his obligations to God and community, a direct polemic against such materialistic foolishness. His character serves as a foil not only to Abigail but also to David, who, despite his own flaws, ultimately listens to wisdom.


1 Samuel 25:4-9

David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name... ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have... Your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm... let the young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’”...

In-depth-analysis

  • Polite Request: David’s greeting, "Peace be to you..." (shalom), is elaborate and respectful. He frames his request within the context of a "feast day," implying an expectation of generosity.
  • "Your Son David": A term of respect used by an inferior or younger man to a superior or elder. David humbles himself, despite being God's anointed king.
  • Reciprocity: David clearly states the basis for his request: his men provided protection for Nabal’s shepherds and flocks. This was a common arrangement, a form of informal security service for which payment in kind was expected.

Bible references

  • Leviticus 19:18: "...you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Nabal violates the spirit of this law).
  • Luke 10:5-6: "Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him." (Reflects the cultural importance of the "peace" greeting).

Cross references

Gal 6:6 (sharing with one who teaches), Rom 15:27 (sharing material things with those who provided spiritual service).


1 Samuel 25:10-11

And Nabal answered David's servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who are breaking away from their masters. Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I know not where?”

In-depth-analysis

  • Deliberate Insult: Nabal’s response, "Who is David?," is rhetorical contempt. David was famous throughout Israel for killing Goliath.
  • "Son of Jesse": Using his father's name instead of a title is belittling.
  • "Runaway Servants": He maliciously frames David and his men as rebellious slaves, siding with Saul and rejecting David's legitimacy.
  • "My bread...my water...my meat": His selfish possessiveness ("my...my...my") stands in stark contrast to God’s generosity and the cultural expectation of sharing on a feast day. This attitude echoes that of the rich fool in Luke's parable.

Bible references

  • Luke 12:18-20: "And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones... And I will say to my soul... relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night your soul is required of you...'" (A perfect New Testament parallel to Nabal's selfish folly).
  • 1 Kings 12:16: "What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse!" (The northern tribes use a similar cry to reject David's dynasty later).

Cross references

Exo 5:2 ("Who is the LORD...?"), Jdg 9:28 (Gaal's contempt for Abimelech), Prov 18:23 (poor man's plea vs rich man's harsh answer).


1 Samuel 25:12-13, 21-22

So David's young men turned and went back... And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!”... And David was saying, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness... he has returned me evil for good. God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.”

In-depth-analysis

  • Righteous Anger Turns Sinful: David's initial anger is understandable, as he has been profoundly dishonored. However, it quickly boils over into a vow of disproportionate and bloody vengeance.
  • "One Male": The Hebrew idiom "any who urinates against a wall" refers to every male in the household. David plans to annihilate Nabal's entire male line, including innocent servants.
  • Rash Vow: David swears a personal oath before God to carry out this slaughter. This shows his human frailty; the future king is about to commit a terrible atrocity out of wounded pride.

Bible references

  • Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (The principle David nearly violated).
  • Ephesians 4:26-27: "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." (David lets his anger lead him into sinful intent).
  • James 1:19-20: "let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (A perfect commentary on David's reaction).

Cross references

Gen 34:25-26 (Simeon and Levi's disproportionate revenge), Jdg 19-21 (tribe of Benjamin nearly annihilated), Num 30:2 (law of vows).


1 Samuel 25:14-19

But one of the young men told Abigail... “Behold, David sent messengers... to greet our master, and he railed at them... the men were very good to us... they were a wall to us both by night and by day... Now therefore know and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master... and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.” Then Abigail made haste...

In-depth-analysis

  • The Wise Servant: Unlike Nabal, his servant correctly assesses the situation, confirms David’s claims of protection ("a wall to us"), and warns Abigail. This highlights Nabal's isolation due to his own character.
  • "Worthless Man": The servant calls Nabal a ben-beliya'al (בֶן־בְּלִיַּעַל), literally a "son of worthlessness." This is a strong term for profound wickedness.
  • Abigail's Action: Her response is immediate and decisive ("made haste"). She takes charge, gathering a massive provision (two hundred loaves, two skins of wine, five sheep, etc.), and acts without consulting her foolish husband, knowing it would be useless. This is wisdom in action.

Bible references

  • Proverbs 31:20: "She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy." (Abigail embodies the wise and generous woman).
  • Esther 4:13-14: "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape... And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" (Like Esther, Abigail acts courageously to save her people from destruction).

Cross references

Pro 22:3 (prudent sees danger and hides), Pro 14:1 (wise woman builds her house).


1 Samuel 25:23-31

When Abigail saw David, she hurried... fell before David on her face... and said, “On me, my lord, on me be the iniquity! ... Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he... But the LORD has restrained you, my lord, from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand... For the LORD will certainly make for my lord a sure house... and when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

In-depth-analysis

This speech is a masterclass in diplomacy and theology:

  1. Humility: She falls on her face and takes the blame ("On me... be the iniquity").
  2. Appeasement: She belittles her husband, calling him worthless and urging David not to take him seriously.
  3. Theological Insight: She correctly reframes the event, stating that the LORD has sent her to restrain David from sinning. She attributes her intervention to God's providence.
  4. Prophetic Encouragement: She affirms David’s destiny, prophetically declaring that God will build him a "sure house" (a dynasty) because he fights "the LORD's battles."
  5. Appeal to Conscience: Her core argument is that David should not mar his future reign with the guilt of needless bloodshed. She appeals to his legacy and future peace of mind.

Bible references

  • Genesis 32:20: "...'I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.'" (Jacob uses a similar strategy to appease Esau).
  • Proverbs 15:1: "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Abigail's speech is a perfect enactment of this proverb).
  • 2 Samuel 7:16: "And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever." (Abigail's words foreshadow Nathan's prophecy to David).

Cross references

Gen 18:27-32 (Abraham's intercession for Sodom), Pro 25:15 (persuasion breaks bone), Mt 5:9 (blessed are peacemakers).


1 Samuel 25:32-35

And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from avenging myself with my own hand... go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.”

In-depth-analysis

  • David's Repentance: David's anger vanishes instantly. He shows true humility and spiritual sensitivity by listening to her wisdom.
  • Triple Blessing: He blesses (1) God first, for sending her; (2) her discernment (ta'am - taste, judgment); and (3) Abigail herself. This shows he correctly understands the event's divine, intellectual, and personal dimensions.
  • "Obeyed your voice": For the future king of Israel to say he "obeyed" the voice of a woman shows remarkable humility and wisdom. He recognized her voice as God's instrument.

Bible references

  • Genesis 20:6: "Then God said to him in the dream, 'Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me...'" (God directly restraining a pagan king, similar to restraining David through Abigail).
  • Proverbs 19:2: "Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way." (David was making haste; Abigail provided the knowledge that corrected his path).

Cross references

Pro 9:9 (instruct wise man, he becomes wiser), Gal 6:1 (restore one caught in transgression with gentleness), Ps 141:5 (let righteous rebuke be kindness).


1 Samuel 25:36-38

And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk... But in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.

In-depth-analysis

  • Feast of a King: The irony is thick. The foolish man feasts "like a king" while rejecting the true future king. He is blissfully ignorant of his near-annihilation.
  • "Heart died... became like a stone": This could describe a stroke or a paralytic seizure brought on by the shock and terror of realizing what almost happened. His physical heart becomes like his metaphorical stone-cold heart.
  • "The LORD struck Nabal": The text is explicit. David did not need to act. God executed His own justice on Nabal for his wickedness, perfectly timed. This vindicates Abigail's advice and God's role as the ultimate avenger.

Bible references

  • Daniel 5:1-4, 30: "Belshazzar the king made a great feast... That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed." (Another story of a foolish ruler feasting arrogantly just before divine judgment falls).
  • Acts 12:21-23: "...Herod... was giving an address to them. And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him... and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last." (Another account of swift, divine judgment on an arrogant leader).

Cross references

Deu 32:35 (To Me belongeth vengeance), Nah 1:2-3 (Lord is slow to anger, but will not acquit the wicked), 2Ki 19:35 (The Angel of the LORD strikes down Sennacherib's army).


1 Samuel 25:39-44

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the LORD who has avenged the wrong done to me... and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife... So Abigail made haste... and she became his wife... David also took Ahinoam... but Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti...

In-depth-analysis

  • Vindication: David sees Nabal's death as God's vindication of his honor and a confirmation that he did right to restrain himself.
  • Marriage to Abigail: This is both a fitting personal union of two wise and godly people and a strategic political move. It allies David with a wealthy and influential Calebite clan in Judah, strengthening his power base in the very region where he would first be crowned king (Hebron).
  • Other Wives: The mention of Ahinoam and Michal serves two purposes: It matter-of-factly introduces David's practice of polygamy and underscores his complete alienation from Saul's house, as his first wife has been given to another man.

Bible references

  • Ruth 4:10-11: "...Boaz had taken Ruth... And all the people who were in the gate and the elders said, 'We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah...'" (A similar union of a righteous man with a worthy woman).
  • 2 Samuel 3:2-5: Lists the sons David had in Hebron, born to different wives, including Abigail and Ahinoam.
  • Hosea 2:19: "And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy." (David's union with wise Abigail can be seen as a type of Christ's union with His church).

Cross references

Pro 18:22 (He who finds a wife finds a good thing), Psa 37:34 (Wait on the LORD, and He shall exalt thee).


1 Samuel chapter 25 analysis

  • Character Foils: The chapter is built on contrasts: Abigail's wisdom vs. Nabal's folly; Abigail's diplomacy vs. David's rash anger; Nabal's selfish hoarding vs. Abigail's generous provision; God's perfect justice vs. David's flawed human vengeance.
  • Chiastic Structure: The story may be viewed as a chiasm (a symmetrical literary structure), centering on the confrontation between Abigail and David, which is the turning point of the narrative.
  • Theology of Divine Restraint: A key theme is God working through human means (Abigail's wisdom) to prevent His chosen servant from sinning. God's providence is not just about providing but also about restraining.
  • A "King-in-Waiting" Learns Kingship: This episode is a crucial part of David's education. He learns that a true king does not act on personal pride but trusts God for vindication. A wise king also listens to wise counsel, even from unexpected sources.
  • Abigail as a Type of Christ/Church: In her intercession, Abigail stands in the gap to absorb the wrath intended for a guilty house. She takes the "iniquity" upon herself (25:24) and makes peace. This act of mediation and peacemaking has led many to see her as a type of Christ, who intercedes for sinners, or of the Church, wisely intervening on behalf of the world.

1 Samuel 25 summary

After the death of Samuel, a hot-tempered David is grievously insulted by a rich fool named Nabal. Enraged, David swears to annihilate Nabal's entire household. However, Nabal’s discerning wife, Abigail, wisely intervenes with provisions and a persuasive speech that appeals to David’s future as king and his relationship with God. David relents, blessing her for saving him from bloodguilt. God then strikes Nabal dead, and David, recognizing God’s perfect justice, takes the wise Abigail as his wife.

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1 Samuel chapter 25 kjv

  1. 1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
  2. 2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
  3. 3 Now the name of the man 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.
  4. 4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
  5. 5 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:
  6. 6 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.
  7. 7 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.
  8. 8 Ask thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favor in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
  9. 9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
  10. 10 And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
  11. 11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
  12. 12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
  13. 13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye 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 by the stuff.
  14. 14 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.
  15. 15 But 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:
  16. 16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
  17. 17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
  18. 18 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.
  19. 19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
  20. 20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
  21. 21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
  22. 22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
  23. 23 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,
  24. 24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
  25. 25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
  26. 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
  27. 27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
  28. 28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
  29. 29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
  30. 30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
  31. 31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offense of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
  32. 32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
  33. 33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
  34. 34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
  35. 35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
  36. 36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
  37. 37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
  38. 38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
  39. 39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
  40. 40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
  41. 41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
  42. 42 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
  43. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
  44. 44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

1 Samuel chapter 25 nkjv

  1. 1 Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah. And David arose and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.
  2. 2 Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
  3. 3 The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.
  4. 4 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
  5. 5 David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.
  6. 6 And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: 'Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!
  7. 7 Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel.
  8. 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.' "
  9. 9 So when David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited.
  10. 10 Then Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.
  11. 11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?"
  12. 12 So David's young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words.
  13. 13 Then David said to his men, "Every man gird on his sword." So every man girded on his sword, and David also girded on his sword. And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.
  14. 14 Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them.
  15. 15 But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields.
  16. 16 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.
  17. 17 Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him."
  18. 18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys.
  19. 19 And she said to her servants, "Go on before me; see, I am coming after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
  20. 20 So it was, as she rode on the donkey, that she went down under cover of the hill; and there were David and his men, coming down toward her, and she met them.
  21. 21 Now David had said, "Surely in vain I have protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belongs to him. And he has repaid me evil for good.
  22. 22 May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light."
  23. 23 Now when Abigail saw David, she dismounted quickly from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground.
  24. 24 So she fell at his feet and said: "On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant.
  25. 25 Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
  26. 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, since the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal.
  27. 27 And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
  28. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the LORD will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil is not found in you throughout your days.
  29. 29 Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the LORD your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling.
  30. 30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel,
  31. 31 that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant."
  32. 32 Then David said to Abigail: "Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
  33. 33 And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.
  34. 34 For indeed, as the LORD God of Israel lives, who has kept me back from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal!"
  35. 35 So David received from her hand what she had brought him, and said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have heeded your voice and respected your person."
  36. 36 Now Abigail went to Nabal, and there he was, holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; therefore she told him nothing, little or much, until morning light.
  37. 37 So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone.
  38. 38 Then it happened, after about ten days, that the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.
  39. 39 So when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept His servant from evil! For the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal on his own head." And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife.
  40. 40 When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, "David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife."
  41. 41 Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, "Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord."
  42. 42 So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife.
  43. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives.
  44. 44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

1 Samuel chapter 25 niv

  1. 1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.
  2. 2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel.
  3. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings?he was a Calebite.
  4. 4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.
  5. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name.
  6. 6 Say to him: 'Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
  7. 7 "?'Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing.
  8. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.'?"
  9. 9 When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David's name. Then they waited.
  10. 10 Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days.
  11. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?"
  12. 12 David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word.
  13. 13 David said to his men, "Each of you strap on your sword!" So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
  14. 14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them.
  15. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing.
  16. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them.
  17. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him."
  18. 18 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys.
  19. 19 Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead; I'll follow you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
  20. 20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them.
  21. 21 David had just said, "It's been useless?all my watching over this fellow's property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good.
  22. 22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"
  23. 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground.
  24. 24 She fell at his feet and said: "Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say.
  25. 25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name?his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent.
  26. 26 And now, my lord, as surely as the LORD your God lives and as you live, since the LORD has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal.
  27. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.
  28. 28 "Please forgive your servant's presumption. The LORD your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the LORD's battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live.
  29. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling.
  30. 30 When the LORD has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel,
  31. 31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the LORD your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant."
  32. 32 David said to Abigail, "Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.
  33. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.
  34. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak."
  35. 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, "Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request."
  36. 36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until daybreak.
  37. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone.
  38. 38 About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died.
  39. 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise be to the LORD, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal's wrongdoing down on his own head." Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.
  40. 40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, "David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife."
  41. 41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, "I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord's servants."
  42. 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David's messengers and became his wife.
  43. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives.
  44. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

1 Samuel chapter 25 esv

  1. 1 Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. David and Abigail Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
  2. 2 And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
  3. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite.
  4. 4 David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.
  5. 5 So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name.
  6. 6 And thus you shall greet him: 'Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have.
  7. 7 I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel.
  8. 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.'"
  9. 9 When David's young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited.
  10. 10 And Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters.
  11. 11 Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?"
  12. 12 So David's young men turned away and came back and told him all this.
  13. 13 And David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword!" And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage.
  14. 14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them.
  15. 15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them.
  16. 16 They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
  17. 17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him."
  18. 18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.
  19. 19 And she said to her young men, "Go on before me; behold, I come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
  20. 20 And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.
  21. 21 Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good.
  22. 22 God do so to the enemies of David and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him."
  23. 23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground.
  24. 24 She fell at his feet and said, "On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant.
  25. 25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.
  26. 26 Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal.
  27. 27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.
  28. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the LORD, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live.
  29. 29 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the LORD your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling.
  30. 30 And when the LORD has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel,
  31. 31 my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the LORD has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant."
  32. 32 And David said to Abigail, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
  33. 33 Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand!
  34. 34 For as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male."
  35. 35 Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition."
  36. 36 And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light.
  37. 37 In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
  38. 38 And about ten days later the LORD struck Nabal, and he died.
  39. 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed be the LORD who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The LORD has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head." Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife.
  40. 40 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife."
  41. 41 And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, "Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord."
  42. 42 And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife.
  43. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives.
  44. 44 Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

1 Samuel chapter 25 nlt

  1. 1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel gathered for his funeral. They buried him at his house in Ramah. Nabal Angers David Then David moved down to the wilderness of Maon.
  2. 2 There was a wealthy man from Maon who owned property near the town of Carmel. He had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats, and it was sheep-shearing time.
  3. 3 This man's name was Nabal, and his wife, Abigail, was a sensible and beautiful woman. But Nabal, a descendant of Caleb, was crude and mean in all his dealings.
  4. 4 When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
  5. 5 he sent ten of his young men to Carmel with this message for Nabal:
  6. 6 "Peace and prosperity to you, your family, and everything you own!
  7. 7 I am told that it is sheep-shearing time. While your shepherds stayed among us near Carmel, we never harmed them, and nothing was ever stolen from them.
  8. 8 Ask your own men, and they will tell you this is true. So would you be kind to us, since we have come at a time of celebration? Please share any provisions you might have on hand with us and with your friend David."
  9. 9 David's young men gave this message to Nabal in David's name, and they waited for a reply.
  10. 10 "Who is this fellow David?" Nabal sneered to the young men. "Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.
  11. 11 Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I've slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?"
  12. 12 So David's young men returned and told him what Nabal had said.
  13. 13 "Get your swords!" was David's reply as he strapped on his own. Then 400 men started off with David, and 200 remained behind to guard their equipment.
  14. 14 Meanwhile, one of Nabal's servants went to Abigail and told her, "David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed insults at them.
  15. 15 These men have been very good to us, and we never suffered any harm from them. Nothing was stolen from us the whole time they were with us.
  16. 16 In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep.
  17. 17 You need to know this and figure out what to do, for there is going to be trouble for our master and his whole family. He's so ill-tempered that no one can even talk to him!"
  18. 18 Abigail wasted no time. She quickly gathered 200 loaves of bread, two wineskins full of wine, five sheep that had been slaughtered, nearly a bushel of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 fig cakes. She packed them on donkeys
  19. 19 and said to her servants, "Go on ahead. I will follow you shortly." But she didn't tell her husband Nabal what she was doing.
  20. 20 As she was riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming toward her.
  21. 21 David had just been saying, "A lot of good it did to help this fellow. We protected his flocks in the wilderness, and nothing he owned was lost or stolen. But he has repaid me evil for good.
  22. 22 May God strike me and kill me if even one man of his household is still alive tomorrow morning!"
  23. 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him.
  24. 24 She fell at his feet and said, "I accept all blame in this matter, my lord. Please listen to what I have to say.
  25. 25 I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don't pay any attention to him. He is a fool, just as his name suggests. But I never even saw the young men you sent.
  26. 26 "Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has kept you from murdering and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies and those who try to harm you be as cursed as Nabal is.
  27. 27 And here is a present that I, your servant, have brought to you and your young men.
  28. 28 Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way. The LORD will surely reward you with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the LORD's battles. And you have not done wrong throughout your entire life.
  29. 29 "Even when you are chased by those who seek to kill you, your life is safe in the care of the LORD your God, secure in his treasure pouch! But the lives of your enemies will disappear like stones shot from a sling!
  30. 30 When the LORD has done all he promised and has made you leader of Israel,
  31. 31 don't let this be a blemish on your record. Then your conscience won't have to bear the staggering burden of needless bloodshed and vengeance. And when the LORD has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!"
  32. 32 David replied to Abigail, "Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today!
  33. 33 Thank God for your good sense! Bless you for keeping me from murder and from carrying out vengeance with my own hands.
  34. 34 For I swear by the LORD, the God of Israel, who has kept me from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one of Nabal's men would still be alive tomorrow morning."
  35. 35 Then David accepted her present and told her, "Return home in peace. I have heard what you said. We will not kill your husband."
  36. 36 When Abigail arrived home, she found that Nabal was throwing a big party and was celebrating like a king. He was very drunk, so she didn't tell him anything about her meeting with David until dawn the next day.
  37. 37 In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone.
  38. 38 About ten days later, the LORD struck him, and he died.
  39. 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise the LORD, who has avenged the insult I received from Nabal and has kept me from doing it myself. Nabal has received the punishment for his sin." Then David sent messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife.
  40. 40 When the messengers arrived at Carmel, they told Abigail, "David has sent us to take you back to marry him."
  41. 41 She bowed low to the ground and responded, "I, your servant, would be happy to marry David. I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet of his servants!"
  42. 42 Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her servant girls as attendants, mounted her donkey, and went with David's messengers. And so she became his wife.
  43. 43 David also married Ahinoam from Jezreel, making both of them his wives.
  44. 44 Saul, meanwhile, had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to a man from Gallim named Palti son of Laish.
  1. Bible Book of 1 Samuel
  2. 1 Story of Hannah
  3. 2 Hannah's song and Prayer
  4. 3 Story of Samuel
  5. 4 The Philistines Capture the Ark
  6. 5 The Philistines and the Ark
  7. 6 The Ark Returned to Israel
  8. 7 Samuel Judges Israel
  9. 8 Israel Asks for a King
  10. 9 Saul the first king of Israel
  11. 10 Samuel Anoints Saul as King
  12. 11 Saul Defeats the Ammonites
  13. 12 Samuel's Farewell Address
  14. 13 Saul Fights the Philistines
  15. 14 Story of Jonathan
  16. 15 Saul and the Amalekites
  17. 16 David annointed
  18. 17 David and Goliath story
  19. 18 David and Jonathan's Friendship
  20. 19 Saul Tries to Kill David
  21. 20 Jonathan Warns David
  22. 21 David and the Holy Bread
  23. 22 David in the cav of Adullam
  24. 23 David Saves the City of Keilah
  25. 24 David Spares Saul's Life
  26. 25 Death of Samuel and Abigail
  27. 26 David Spares Saul Again
  28. 27 David Flees to the Philistines
  29. 28 Saul consults the Witch of Endor
  30. 29 The Philistines Reject David
  31. 30 David's Wives Are Captured
  32. 31 Death of Saul