Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
David asks Nabal for provisions. Nabal spurns the request and is almost killed by David. Nabal’s wife Abigail appeases David by secretly giving him food and drink. Nabal dies and David takes Abigail as his wife.
II. Photo
Abigail prepares food for David: “Abigail quickly got together two hundred loaves of bread, two jars of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of parched corn, one hundred cakes of raisin, and two hundred cakes of pressed figs.” (v. 18a)
III. Important Verses
1a: Samuel died, and all Israel gathered and made lament for him; and they buried him in Ramah, his home.
10-11: Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many slaves nowadays who run away from their masters. Should I then take my bread and my water, and the meat that I slaughtered for my own shearers, and give them to men who come from I don’t know where?”
23-26: hen Abigail saw David, she quickly dismounted from the ass and threw herself face down before David, bowing to the ground. Prostrate at his feet, she pleaded, “Let the blame be mine, my lord, but let your handmaid speak to you; hear your maid’s plea. Please, my lord, pay no attention to that wretched fellow Nabal. For he is just what his name says: His name means ‘boor’ and he is a boor. “Your handmaid did not see the young men whom my lord sent. I swear, my lord, as the LORD lives and as you live — the LORD who has kept you from seeking redress by blood with your own hands — let your enemies and all who would harm my lord fare like Nabal!
38: About ten days later the LORD struck Nabal and he died.
39-42: When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praised be the LORD who championed my cause against the insults of Nabal and held back His servant from wrongdoing; the LORD has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.” David sent messengers to propose marriage to Abigail, to take her as his wife. When David’s servants came to Abigail at Carmel and told her that David had sent them to her to make her his wife, she immediately bowed low with her face to the ground and said, “Your handmaid is ready to be your maidservant, to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” Then Abigail rose quickly and mounted an ass, and with five of her maids in attendance she followed David’s messengers; and she became his wife.
IV. Outline
1. Samuel Dies
2-3. Nabal and his wife Abigail
4-8. David sends messengers to Nabal requesting provisions
9-11. Nabal spurns David’s request
12-13. David prepares to kill Nabal
14-19. Abigail prepares provisions for David
20-31. Abigail gives David provisions and pleads for mercy
32-35. David blesses Abigail and brings his raid to an end
36-37. Abigail informs Nabal about the incident
38. God kills Nabal
39-42. David marries Abigail
43. David’s second wife: Ahinoam of Jezreel
44. Saul gives Michal to another man
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Campbell, Antony F. “1 Samuel” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 7 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2003).
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Klein, Ralph W. “1 Samuel” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 10 (Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1983).
Photo taken from http://www.dallassecretwine.com/images/bread_wine.jpg
