More than you might think:. Samuel the prophet had just died, and David and his men had traveled down into the Desert of Maon. It was there the conflict began.
To say she married into a toxic situation would likely be an understatement. They had protected them when the servants had cared for their sheep out in the desert, and they were faithful to never take anything from them.
At a time when dangers in the desert lurked all around, this was a huge blessing from David to Nabal and his family. Their protection gave them the ability to finish their work and to prosper from their business dealings.
So when David sent a word of kindness to Nabal, asking him for a simple act of hospitality for his men which was common in this culture and time , imagine his anger when this hard-hearted man responded with such rudeness and contempt.
Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where? About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. But we see quick reasoning and sound judgment in her character, for she knew just what to do. She was not afraid to act quickly:. Yet these men were very good to us.
They did not mistreat us, and the whole times we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. Night and day they were a wall around us all the times we were herding our sheep near them.
Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him. He is able to use any of us, even those who feel insignificant or powerless, for His greater good.
Abigail showed great wisdom in acting quickly, swiftly, and speaking honorably to David. She took control of the situation that was potentially dangerous for them all. She sent food and her servants up ahead. She chose wisely to act alone, without Nabal knowing. And as she came riding her donkey towards David and his men, she met him with honor and respect for how he had cared for her people.
Instead of hiding or cowering, Abigail moved forward, towards the danger, knowing that God was surely with her. As a woman of beauty and brains, she counsels David, prophesies his kingship, and becomes one of his wives who is actually named. Her character shows us that women of God can be humble, wise, and diplomatic. We meet her married to a rather horrible man who refuses to provide David food and shelter when David is on the run from Saul 1 Samuel Here, Abigail sends loads of food to David and asks him not to do anything rash in regard to Nabal.
Nabal dies at the hands of the Lord a few days later, and David marries Abigail. Does this mean that the Bible allows for polygamy? And what else do we know about Abigail? In the Chronicles verse, we learn that she has a son named Daniel not the one taken into captivity by the Babylonians. The banquet Nabal throws himself, and the amount of food Abigail sends David seems to confirm this. Abigail also tells David not to slay Nabal because God would do the vengeance if only David would wait on the Lord.
This seems to indicate she had some prophetic giftings of some sort. The passage confirms this when she predicts David will be king over Israel. So, if Abigail abounded with wisdom and beauty , why did David marry more than one woman. Or why did God allow him to do it?
Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, Berlin, Adele. Kraemer, 43— Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Bodi, Daniel, ed. Hebrew Bible Monographs Garsiel, Moshe. Sheffield: Almond, Levenson, Jon D. Polzin, Robert. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, Shalev, Meir.
Shields, Mary. Camp, 38— Have an update or correction? Let us know. Episode E. Lockhart's New Jewish Superhero. Jewish Women's Archive. Learn more.
In Brief. Bach, Alice.
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