David continues to run away from King Saul. He arrives in Carmel, in the southern Hebron hills. There, he and his men earn a living by watching over people’s herds. Nabal, a local man, blatantly refuses to pay David and his men for their services. Nabal acts ungratefully andDavid swears revenge. However, Nabal’s wife Abigail appeases him and prevents unnecessary carnage.
David’s prolonged exile has almost made him lose his temper and act with vengeance and violence. Nabal’s wife, Abigail, fears that a bloody conflict could break out. David is determined to kill her husband and his household. Abigail warns the fugitive king that if he spills any blood, God will not favor him anymore. David listens to her advice. Later that night, Nabal drinks too much wine over dinner and falls ill. Ten days later, Nabal dies and David takes Abigail as his wife. David doesn’t commit murder. Instead, he restores peace among his men and continues on his journey.
“Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man waschurlish and evil in his doings” (1 Samuel 25:2-3)
“And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master” (1 Samuel 25:10)
“Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal” (1 Samuel 25:25-26)
Certainty in the love and blessings of the Creator leads to peacefulness and the end of violence.
