Read Abigail’s story in 1 Samuel 25:1–42.
Imagine you’re at home in the desert of Maon, west of the Dead Sea. You’re married to a rancher of sheep and goats who is one of the richest men in the area. His name is Nabal, which means “fool.” And, unfortunately, his name fit his character. Welcome to Abigail’s life.
David, one of the nation’s most powerful men, was camped out on Nabal’s property in Carmel with six hundred of his men. It was shearing time. And Nabal had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep—plenty of meat to share.
David sent ten of his men to Nabal to deliver a message. “Long life to you. Good health to you and your household.” David’s men started the conversation by blessing Nabal and his family. “It’s sheep-shearing time,” the men said. “When your shepherds were with us we didn’t mistreat them. The whole time they were at Carmel none of your goats or sheep went missing, so please give these young men and your son David whatever you can find for them.”
Nabal puffed up. “Who is this David? Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I’ve slaughtered for my shearers and give it to his men?”
Nabal was a prideful and selfish man. It didn’t matter to Nabal that David and his men had been good to him and helped guard his animals and had kept them from harm.
When the men returned to David with Nabal’s answer, David was very angry. He told his men to sword up. David put on his sword too. Then he took four hundred men and headed toward Nabal’s home.
One of Nabal’s servants told Abigail that her husband had hurled insults at David’s men after David and his men had protected them. He told her that David was getting ready to kill Nabal and all the men in Nabal’s household for these insults.
Abigail wasted no time. She rose above her circumstances and took charge. Abigail ordered presents for David to be loaded onto donkeys—two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep, a basket of roasted grain, one hundred raisin cakes, and two hundred pressed fig cakes. Then Abigail climbed onto her own donkey and headed toward David and his men.
When Abigail found David, she slid off her donkey, humbly bowed at David’s feet, and begged him to listen to her. “Pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal,” Abigail said. “Since the Lord has kept you from taking revenge and shedding blood, please forgive your servant’s meanness. You fight the Lord’s battles. Don’t let any wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live.”
Abigail appealed to David’s sense of justice and showed concern for his integrity. She understood that David needed to protect his good name because God had plans for him.
David said to Abigail, “Praise the Lord who sent you today. Bless you for your good judgment and for keeping me from shedding blood this day.” David accepted the gifts Abigail had brought with her. “Go home in peace,” he said, “I’ve heard your words and granted your request.”
Abigail’s humility calmed David’s anger. David changed his mind about punishing Nabal for his foolish treatment of him and his men.
Abigail took control of a dangerous situation and acted according to her faith in God. It took courage to go out to meet David, humility to plead with him, and wisdom to say what she said to the future king of Israel. Her wisdom kept David from sinning. God used Abigail to save many lives.
When Abigail returned home, Nabal was drunk. Abigail waited until the next morning to tell her husband she’d gone out to make things right with David. When she told him, his heart failed. He died ten days later.
After David heard of Nabal’s death, he asked Abigail to marry him. She did.
When you’re in the middle of difficult circumstances—a friend betrays you or a parent is too busy for you or your teacher doesn’t understand you—you’re the one who chooses your reaction and response. Like Abigail, you can place your trust in God and choose to develop a godly character—one of humility, generosity, understanding, wisdom, and calm judgment.
She [a wife of noble character] speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
— Proverbs 31:26
I will seek God’s wisdom and speak in his wisdom.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being my peacekeeper. Help me to recognize danger and act wisely according to your will. Amen.
In 1 Samuel 25:24–31, Abigail’s speech to David was one of the longest speeches given by a woman recorded in the Bible.
The name Abigail means my “father’s joy.” In the toughest of circumstances, Abigail found joy in God, her heavenly Father.