Study Desk

that David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep.

So David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel and ^(F1)visit Nabal, and greet him in my name;

and this is what you shall say: '^(F1)Have a long life, ^(C1)peace to you, and peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!

'Now then, I have heard ^(C1)that you have shearers. Now, your shepherds have been with us; we have not harmed them, ^(C2)nor has anything of theirs gone missing all the days they were in Carmel.

'Ask your young men and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on ^(C1)a ^(F1)festive day. Please give whatever you find at hand to your servants and to your son David.'"

When David's young men came, they spoke to Nabal in accordance with all these words in David's name; then they waited.

But Nabal answered David's servants and said, "^(C1)Who is David? And who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are each breaking away from his master.

"Shall I then ^(C1)take my bread and my water and my meat that I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men ^(F1)whose origin I do not know?"

So David's young men made their way back and returned; and they came and informed him in accordance with all these words.

Then David said to his men, "Each of you strap on his sword." So each man strapped on his sword. And David also strapped on his sword, and about ^(C1)four hundred men went up behind David, while two hundred ^(C2)stayed with the baggage.