David and Nabal I Samuel 25

I Samuel 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."

Some time passes between verse 1 when David when down to Paran and the story of the rest of the chapter. David has followers now and must provide for them. He also keeps some standards and does not steal from the people. He did, however, sent some young men to Nabal for some help. David and his men had served as protectors of Nabal's flocks in the wilderness and the man had lost nothing while David was there. Nabal, though, is not willing to share with David and his men and it angers David.

Paran is where Ishmael grew up Genesis 21:21 See also Numbers 10:12 It is also where Israel took their journey from Sinai.
Nabal means fool.

v10 "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."

David received the report from these young man and commanded that everyone strap on their swords. He was on the way to Nabal with no good intentions v13 when the wife of Nabal, named Abigal, came to meet David with gifts.

v23 "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,"

She had already sent her servants ahead with a nice load of food for David and his men: two hundred loaves, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures parched corn, a hundred clusters of raisins, two hundred cakes of figs.

Abigail told David of the nature of her husband and informed him that she knew nothing about David being refused food. Her explanation and generosity stopped David's plans to destroy Nabal.

v32-33 "And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: 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."

Abigail went back to her home where Nabal was having a party. He drank a lot. He seems to have gone into a coma v37 then died 10 days later.

v38 "And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, and he died."

David heard of the death of Abigail's husband and sent young men to get her to come to be his wife. It seems to have pleased her very much.

v42 "And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of her's that went after her and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife."

There is also a mention that David married v43 Ahinoam (See I Samuel 27:3). By this time, Saul has given David's first wife Michal away to another named Phalti the son of Laish of Gallim. v44.

Abigail gave quite a talk when she say David the first time. One verse has a very beautiful phrase in it. I'll type it all.

v29 "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."

She seemed to be very well informed on matters.

Psalm 66:9 "Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved."

Keywords: Bible Study, Old Testament, Israel, Samuel, David, Abigail, Nabal, Saul, Milton Southerland