Abigail’s Gift

The Story

While David was hiding from King Saul in the wilderness, his men protected the flocks of a wealthy man named Nabal. Nothing was stolen, and no shepherd was hurt.

At sheep-shearing time, a time of feasting, David sent ten young men to ask Nabal for whatever food he could spare. Nabal sneered. “Who is David?” He sent them away with nothing.

David was furious. He told four hundred men to strap on their swords. By morning, he vowed, not one male in Nabal’s household would be left alive.

One of Nabal’s servants ran to Nabal’s wife, Abigail, a woman “of good understanding.” She didn’t waste a moment. She loaded donkeys with bread, wine, sheep, grain, raisins, and figs, and rode out to meet David without telling her husband.

When she saw David, she got off her donkey, bowed to the ground, and asked him to let the blame fall on her. Then she reminded him who he was: God was going to make him king. He fought the Lord’s battles. He didn’t want the memory of innocent blood on his conscience when that day came.

David stopped. “Blessed be thy advice,” he said, “which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.”

About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. When David heard, he said the Lord had pleaded his cause and kept His servant from evil.

Reflection