Abigail
1 Sam 25:1 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.
All were saddened as they met together to remember this great prophet and judge of Israel. He was dedicated to the Lord as a child and served the Lord faithfully. The Spiritual leader of Israel had gone on to wait for the coming of the Messiah. The leader that David trusted was dead, the leader he did not trust, Saul, was alive and unpredictable. David having been so persecuted by Saul, perhaps leaves part of his heart behind with Samuel. Losing Samuel and all the persecution from Saul had certainly had an affect on David's emotions. Still he knew God and the scriptures, he knew to do the right thing. He would need to rely on God's anointing.
1 Sam 25:2 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.
The man was of very great in wealth, having so great a herd. It was shearing time, the time when the wool would be taken to sell for profit. Wool being woven into clothing and blankets, these would bring a good price to him and increase his riches.
1 Sam 25:3 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.
Nabal is the man, Nabal means fool. His wife is Abagail: "my father is joy" a wife of good understanding and very beautiful. The Bible only speaks of three women as being beautiful, Abigail, Esther and Sarah. She is in good company.
Prov 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
Prov 19:14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
Prov 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Prov 31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Prov 31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Prov 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Prov 31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Prov 31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Prov 31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Prov 31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Prov 31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Prov 31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Prov 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Prov 31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Prov 31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Prov 31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Prov 31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Prov 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Prov 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Prov 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Prov 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Prov 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Prov 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
Prov 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
But, she was married to a churlish man; he was hard, cruel, severe, stiff-necked, obstinate and had an evil character. Abigail was wise and good while Nabal was foolish and evil. Good and evil will go side by side in this Chapter.
He was wealthy in fortune, but in character he was a nothing. The apostle John spoke of those rich in this world's good, but lacking compassion.
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Jesus spoke of a rich man not making it to heaven, for the love of riches was greater than the trust in God.
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
All we have belongs to God, we are stewards of his wealth given to us. There are many needs to be met. We are to do the work of Jesus. Yet Nabal unlike his father Caleb, had no trust in God. Nabal and Saul were similar in character. Saul had three thousand men with him and Nabal had three thousand sheep. Let's see how many ways Nabal reminds David of Saul.
1 Sam 25:4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
1 Sam 25:5 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:
1 Sam 25:6 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.
1 Sam 25:7 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.
1 Sam 25:8 Ask thy young men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour 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.
David placed himself under Nabal, as his son, just as he had to Saul. He had done good unto him, but would receive evil.
1 Sam 25:9 And when David's young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
It was the time of sheep shearing, a time of wealth and feasts. David sends ten young men with a message of peace to Nabal. The men remind Nabal that they had provided protection for the sheep, none were lost. David and his men in the stronghold were good to these sheep, protecting them and the shepherds. They were hungry and would take anything at all that he might offer them in food to supply their needs. They came on a good day, a day of harvest and feasting, a time for all to share in the Lord's provision. Like David to Saul, he was an obedient servant protecting all that was the domain of the King.
1 Sam 25:10 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.
An insult to David, who always was a servant with respect for his master the king. It was Saul who was the madman seeking to destroy his loyal servant. Nabal, as satan directs, knows how to hurt David with words of insult. How many have been discouraged by words sent to destroy us when we humbly come in need? What then is our reaction? Do we receive these words as true, and leave wounded and needy, never to seek again for help? Do we look upon him as an agent of satan, have pity and go on with life looking for other ways to meet our needs? Or do we become angry and seek vengeance? Nabel was insulting to David as was King Saul.
1 Sam 25:11 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?
Nabal would not part with any of his wealth, he held on jealously to all he had, as Saul did, accusing David wrongfully.
1 Sam 25:12 So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
Who is David? All Israel knew who David was, he was famous for his courage and for his battles. Who is his son of Jesse? He knew who he was, he puts him down in coming from a poor family. Who does David think he is to come and impose upon me? Should I share my bread and meat with perfect strangers? Remember Jesus' words?
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
This was the appropriate response. Nabal was harsh and the young men reported back to David.
1 Sam 25:13 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.
This was a low time in David's life, he was acting as an angry man, not in God's spirit of grace. David took the insults as they were given and reacted to take vengeance upon him. Come on men, put your swords in place, we are going to battle. Nabal had not insulted a weak nobody, but a great man of war and the Lord's anointed king. David had been to battle many times leading thousands to victory. He had judged Nabal as unfit to live.Nabal was not God's anointed as was Saul. He behaved as Saul, but was only a foolish man. David was acting differently than he had in the past. All that had happened before had made him angry at sin, he wanted to rid himself of this nuisance. He was not acting as God's servant, but as an angry man.
Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
1 Sam 25:14 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.
1 Sam 25:15 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:
1 Sam 25:16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
1 Sam 25:17 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.
One of the young men goes to Abigail speaking of what David's men had done for them and how badly he spoke to David's young messengers. Why did he go over his master's authority, to his wife? Because he knew that Nabal was wrong and that all were in danger. His wife had a sound mind, she was good. When danger threatened she took action in an orderly fashion to save her evil husband and his servants.
1 Sam 25:18 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.
Abigail quickly began to gather much food that was on hand, and loaded it onto donkeys, to take to David.
1 Sam 25:19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
She acted apart from her husband, but for his good. She knew his life was in danger, even if he did not see as she saw.
1 Sam 25:20 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.
Sam 25:21 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.
1 Sam 25:22 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.
David was angry, using crude language concerning Nabal and his men. Why would he kill the servants that he protected with the sheep? It is human anger.
1 Sam 25:23 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,
1 Sam 25:24 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.
Imagine Abigail riding on a donkey to face four hundred angry men, armed coming in full force to kill her husband and servants. She came as did Jesus on a lowly donkey, she came in peace. She bowed herself before David with humility, as David had bowed before King Saul after he left the cave. She asked that the iniquity of her husband should fall on her, as Jesus took our sins upon himself.
Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Mark 11:9 And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
No, we do not worship Abigail or even Mary. We can appreciate their good character, but Jesus is Lord. Only he is without sins.
Abigail's Advice
1 Sam 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.
She confesses that her husband was indeed foolish, that if she were asked by the young men for food, she would have honored the request.
Prov 10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
Prov 10:9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
1 Sam 25:26 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.
Her words are of faith, that David has ceased to shed blood, and from avenging himself with his own hand. She speaks to David to turn aside from her and her servants. Let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. She does not try to stop David from killing her husband. This was not a godly thing for her to do. A wife should always seek to do good towards her husband. By this it appears that her true aim was to save herself, her servants and her wealth. She also prevented David from avenging himself, which would not be according to his best interests.
1 Sam 25:27 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.
Abigail speaks as if the offering were only for David's men, not as a bribe to him to appease his anger.
1 Sam 25:28 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.
She asks David to forgive, but not her husband. Then she encourages him saying that his kingdom will be sure, his house, because he fights the battles of the LORD, and there was no evil found in him. Abagail was bringing him into a higher purpose. We all need to be reminded whose we are and who we serve.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
1 Sam 25:29 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.
A man is risen to pursue you, (not as a King) Saul seeks your soul. But, your soul is as a bundle of life, perhaps as a precious babe, in the Father's protecting arms. Abigail uses a metaphor reminding him of his battle with Goliath, where in protecting God's army, and in faith he used a sling, casting a stone and bringing down the giant who defied God. Let God use a sling and sling your enemies away from you. He will avenge you of your enemies.
Psa 20:6 Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
Psa 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
1 Sam 25:30 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;
1 Sam 25:31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence 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.
It shall come to pass that you will be king, you shall look back and see that you have done no evil in shedding blood because of your anger. When the LORD shall have blessed you, remember me, Abigail.
1 Sam 25:32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
1 Sam 25:33 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.
1 Sam 25:34 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.
David speaks three blessings.
Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who sent you.
Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Blessed be thy advice,
Psa 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Blessed be thou, Abigail, who kept me from shedding blood
Mat 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
1 Sam 25:35 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.
Luke 7:50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
1 Sam 25:36 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.
Nabal had plenty to eat and drink, the feast of a king, yet he would not let the king eat of it. He took what belonged to the king for himself, being drunken with excess.
Luke 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luke 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luke 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
1 Sam 25:37 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.
The night after the drunken spree, his head aching, his body sick, then Abigail tells Nabal how his folly would have cost him his life. Her interceding for him brought mercy to him. He was as a stone, stoned as the expression goes (the effects of being drunk).
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Intercessors are needed to save those who are headed for the Kings judgment.
1 Sam 25:38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.
It does not say that Nabal had repented. Fear is good, if it is fear of God that leads to repentance and receiving a new heart.
Psa 36:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
Psa 36:2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
Psa 36:3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
Psa 36:4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
It was over for Nabal, no more chances to repent. He would be judged by his words and his life.
1 Sam 25:39 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.
1 Sam 25:40 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.
1 Sam 25:41 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.
1 Sam 25:42 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.
David was kept from shedding blood. God avenged him, taking Nabal. Abigail, now a widow, consents to be his wife. From doing things in the proper way, all were blessed. David received a wife and her wealth and flocks of sheep and goats. Abigail was a humble servant, even vowing to wash the feet of the servants of David. She was doing as Jesus would command.
John 13:12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
1 Sam 25:43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.
Another wife? David was a lusty man, this was the privilege of the wealthy, but not the will of God. He would receive many wives as king and many concubines. A survey reported that as many as 75% of church leaders have watched pornography. It is fornication, not of the Lord. David's passions would get him into trouble later. What about Michal, Saul's daughter who was his wife?
1 Sam 25:44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.
Saul continues to give David a bad time. He was not to be trusted.
Prov 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Prov 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Prov 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Prov 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
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