1 Samuel 25

This chapter introduces an intriguing story of David, Nabal, and Abigail. David, while fleeing from Saul, sends men to request provisions from Nabal, a wealthy but harsh man. Nabal rudely refuses, which angers David. Abigail, Nabal's wise wife, intervenes to prevent bloodshed. The chapter highlights themes of wisdom, humility, and God's judgment.

1 Samuel 25:1 (NKJV)
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.

Samuel's death marks a significant moment in Israel's history. He was a prophet, judge, and spiritual leader. His passing led to national mourning. David, aware that his strongest spiritual ally had died, moves into the Wilderness of Paran, likely to avoid Saul's pursuit and reflect on what this loss means for the future of Israel and his own journey.

1 Samuel 25:2-5 (NKJV)
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 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 When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep,
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."

Nabal, introduced as a wealthy but harsh man, contrasts with his wise and beautiful wife, Abigail. David, while in the wilderness, hears of Nabal's sheep-shearing event—a festive time in that culture—and sends messengers in his name, hoping to receive provisions in return for protecting Nabal's shepherds earlier. This sets the stage for the conflict between Nabal's arrogance and David's expectations.

1 Samuel 25:6-9 (NKJV)
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 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 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 So when David’s young men came, they spoke to Nabal according to all these words in the name of David, and waited.

David's message is respectful and peaceful. He reminds Nabal of how David’s men had protected his shepherds, hinting that Nabal owes them for their kindness. David isn’t demanding much, only requesting a share of the provisions as it’s a time of abundance. The respectful tone of the request emphasizes David’s reasonable expectation.

1 Samuel 25:10-11 (NKJV)
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 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?”

Nabal’s response is rude and dismissive. By questioning David's legitimacy and implying he’s nothing more than a rebellious servant, Nabal shows his arrogance and lack of gratitude. He refuses to share his wealth, choosing instead to insult David. This response reveals his selfish nature and sets the conflict in motion.

1 Samuel 25:12-13 (NKJV)
12 So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words.
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.

Upon hearing Nabal's response, David becomes furious and prepares for battle. His quick decision to arm his men shows that he feels deeply insulted and is ready to take vengeance for Nabal’s ingratitude. The large number of men indicates that David plans to carry out a severe punishment against Nabal’s household, escalating the situation quickly.

1 Samuel 25:14-17 (NKJV)
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 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 They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep.
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.”

One of Nabal’s servants informs Abigail about her husband’s foolish behavior. He praises David’s men for their kindness and protection and warns that David is likely to retaliate. The servant acknowledges that Nabal’s arrogance makes him impossible to reason with, putting the entire household in danger. This highlights the importance of Abigail’s wisdom in the face of disaster.

1 Samuel 25:18-19 (NKJV)
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 And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

Abigail, aware of the severity of the situation, acts quickly and wisely. She gathers a generous amount of provisions to appease David and sends her servants ahead with them. By not informing Nabal, she avoids potential interference and displays her prudence, taking initiative to prevent the impending violence.

1 Samuel 25:20-22 (NKJV)
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 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 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.”

David is still furious, feeling that his protection of Nabal’s property was pointless. His anger has escalated to the point where he vows to destroy Nabal and every male in his household. This harsh declaration shows David’s intense frustration at being repaid with insults instead of gratitude, and he feels justified in seeking vengeance.

1 Samuel 25:23-25 (NKJV)
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 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 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.”

Abigail humbly approaches David, taking responsibility for Nabal’s offense. She acknowledges her husband's foolishness (his name means “fool”) and requests that David not hold the insult against him. Abigail's actions and words reflect her wisdom and understanding of how to prevent further bloodshed. She courageously takes the blame to save her household.

1 Samuel 25:26-28 (NKJV)
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 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 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.

Abigail continues her plea by appealing to David’s conscience, suggesting that God has prevented him from taking vengeance. She offers the provisions she brought as peace offerings and urges David to forgive her household's offense. Her reference to David’s future, and God’s plan for him, serves as a reminder of the bigger picture, encouraging David to rise above the situation.

1 Samuel 25:29-31 (NKJV)
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 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 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.”

Abigail wisely points out that David’s life is in God’s hands and that God will deal with his enemies, just as He has promised to establish David as the ruler of Israel. She warns David that taking revenge now could bring future regret. By reminding him of God's plans, she persuades David to avoid rash actions that could later weigh on his conscience.

1 Samuel 25:32-34 (NKJV)
32 Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
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 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!”

David immediately recognizes God's hand in Abigail’s intervention. He praises her wisdom, acknowledging that she has prevented him from making a grave mistake. David admits that his anger would have led to the destruction of Nabal’s household, but Abigail’s swift actions have saved them. This highlights David’s ability to recognize good counsel and act accordingly.

1 Samuel 25:35 (NKJV)
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.”

David accepts Abigail’s gifts and assures her that he will not pursue vengeance against Nabal. His decision to heed her counsel brings peace to both parties and showcases the power of humility and wisdom in resolving conflict. Abigail’s intervention has averted a major tragedy, and David respects her bravery and intelligence.

1 Samuel 25:36-38 (NKJV)
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 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 Then it happened, after about ten days, that the Lord struck Nabal, and he died.

Abigail wisely waits until Nabal is sober to inform him of how close he came to destruction. Upon hearing the news, Nabal has a severe reaction, possibly a stroke or heart attack, and becomes paralyzed. About ten days later, God strikes Nabal, bringing about his death. This event shows divine judgment on Nabal’s foolishness and cruelty, while also vindicating David.

1 Samuel 25:39-42 (NKJV)
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 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 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 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.

Upon hearing of Nabal’s death, David acknowledges God's judgment and justice. He also thanks God for preventing him from taking matters into his own hands. David then proposes to Abigail, recognizing her wisdom and strength of character. Abigail accepts his offer humbly, showing her respect for David’s leadership and God's providence in her life. She quickly joins him, becoming his wife.

1 Samuel 25:43-44 (NKJV)
43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives.
44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

David’s marriage to Abigail is not his only one at this time; he also takes Ahinoam of Jezreel as his wife, indicating that David was practicing polygamy, which was common among kings of that time. Meanwhile, Saul, continuing to oppose David, gives David's first wife, Michal, to another man named Palti. This act serves as a reminder of Saul’s ongoing efforts to undermine David, even through personal relationships. Despite Saul’s actions, God’s favor remains with David as he continues to grow in influence and strength.