The Way
Nabal and Abigail
One woman facing four hundred men with swords
Story
Samuel had died and all Israel was mourning, while at Carmel the sheep-shearing feast was in full swing. It was the feast of Nabal, a rich man with three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. David sent ten young men to greet him courteously and ask for food. Nabal sneered: “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are plenty of servants these days running away from their masters.”
When the words reached David, he shouted, “Everyone, strap on your swords!” Four hundred men set out with swords at their sides. Meanwhile one of Nabal's servants ran to his mistress Abigail: “David's men were a wall around us night and day, and our master insulted them.” Abigail hurried. She loaded donkeys with two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, and cakes of raisins and figs, and set out without telling her husband.
When she met David coming down the mountain path, Abigail got off her donkey and bowed to the ground. “Let the blame be on me,” Abigail said. “Don't let my lord carry the burden of having shed blood for nothing.” David answered, “Praise the Lord, who sent you to me today. You have kept me from bloodshed.” About ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. David took Abigail as his wife.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you today to meet me. Blessed be your good sense. Today you have kept me from shedding blood.
The Lord will surely build a lasting house for my lord, because my lord fights the Lord's battles, and no evil will be found in you as long as you live.
Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are plenty of servants these days running away from their masters.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Sam 25:1–42
Background
This Carmel is not Mount Carmel by the sea but a town in Judah near Maon, south of Hebron. Sheep-shearing time was a season of feasting and generous sharing. “Nabal” means “fool” in Hebrew.
Pause and Reflect
When anger flares up, do I listen to the person trying to stop me?