758 - Abigail Intercedes for Nabal and David Marries Abigail

Abigail Intercedes for Nabal and David Marries Abigail

When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey, and bowed low before him. 

She fell at his feet and said, 

“I accept all blame, in this matter, my lord. 

Please listen to what I have to say. 

I know Nabal is a wicked and ill-tempered man; please don’t pay any attention to him. 

He is a fool, just as his name suggests. 

But, I never even saw the young men you sent. 

“Now, my lord, as surely as the Lord lives, and you yourself live, since the Lord has kept you from murdering, and taking vengeance into your own hands, let all your enemies, and those who try to harm, you be as cursed as Nabal is. 

And here is a present, that I, your servant, have brought to you …and your young men. 

Please forgive me, if I have offended you, in any way. 

The Lord will surely reward you, with a lasting dynasty, for you are fighting the Lord’s battles. 

And you have not done wrong, throughout your entire life. 

“Even when you are chased, by those, who seek to kill you, your life is safe, in the care of the Lord, your God, secure, in his treasure pouch! 

But, the lives, of your enemies, will disappear, like stones, shot from a sling! 

When the Lord has done all He promised …and has made you leader of Israel, don’t let this be a blemish, on your record. 

Then, your conscience won’t have to bear the staggering burden, of needless bloodshed …and vengeance. 

And, when the Lord has done these great things for you, please remember me, your servant!” 

David replied to Abigail, “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you to meet me today! 

Thank God, for your good sense! 

Bless you, for keeping me from murder …and from carrying out vengeance, with my own hands. 

For, I swear, by the Lord, the God of Israel, who has kept me, from hurting you, that if you had not hurried out to meet me, not one, of Nabal’s men, would still be alive tomorrow morning.” 

Then, David accepted her present,  and told her, 

“Return home in peace. 

I have heard what you said. 

We will not kill your husband.” 

When Abigail arrived home, she found, that Nabal was throwing a big party …and was celebrating, like a king. 

He was very drunk, so she didn’t tell him anything, about her meeting, with David, until dawn, the next day. 

In the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him, what had happened. 

As a result, he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed, on his bed like, a stone. 

About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died. 

When David heard, that Nabal was dead, he said, 

“Praise the Lord, who has avenged the insult, that I received, from Nabal …and has kept me, from doing it myself. 

Nabal has received the punishment, for his sin.” 

Then, David sent messengers, to Abigail, to ask her, to become his wife. 

When the messengers arrived, at Carmel, they told Abigail, 

“David has sent us, to take you back to marry him.” 

She bowed low, to the ground,  and responded, 

“I, your servant, would be happy to marry David. 

I would even be willing to become a slave, washing the feet, of his servants!” 

Quickly getting ready, she took along five of her servant girls, as attendants, mounted her donkey, and went with David’s messengers. 

And so she became his wife. 

David, also married Ahinoam, from Jezreel, making both of them his wives. 

Saul, meanwhile, had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to a man from Gallim named Palti, son of Laish. 

1 Samuel 25:23–44 (NLT)

Praise be to God!