Abigail
1 Samuel 25:1-42
Abigail's story is one of a godly wife of a very difficult man. Her courage in intervening for her household
leads to her being greatly blessed by God.
Abigail's story takes place in 1 Samuel. David has separated from King Saul
and gone down to the wilderness of Paran where a very rich man named Nabal
lives, whose wife's name is Abigail.
Verse 3 tells us that "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." The first thing said about her is very important: that
she was a woman of good understanding.
Proverbs 13:15 "Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of
transgressors is hard." We shall
see how true this statement is.
Verses 4 - 8 - David learns that Nabal was shearing his sheep so he
sends ten of his young men to go to Nabal, to greet him in David's name and
offer Nabal peace to him, peace to his house, and peace to all that he had. David has not harmed anything belonging to
Nabal, and desires that Nabal would share of his prosperity with David and his men. In view of later happenings, we speculate
that it is food for himself and his men that he desires.
Verses 10-11 - Nabal denies David his request, using the excuse that
he does not know if it is really David or a pretender and so why should he share of his goods.
Verses 12-13 David learns of Nabal's decision and tells his men to
"gird ye on every man his sword.
And they girded on every man his sword: and David also girded on his
sword:..." 400 men went with David and 200 stayed with their belongings.
