Study Desk

This shows that you are not my enemy. A man doesn't catch his enemy, and then just let him go. He doesn't do good things for his enemy. May the Lord reward you for being good to me today.

So David made a promise to Saul. He promised that he would not kill Saul's family. Then Saul went back home. David and his men went back up to the fort.

Samuel died. All the Israelites met together and mourned his death. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved to the desert of Maon.

There was a very rich man living in Maon. He had 3000 sheep and 1000 goats. That man was in Carmel taking care of some business. He went there to cut the wool from his sheep.

David was in the desert when he heard that Nabal was cutting the wool from his sheep.

David's men went to Nabal. They gave his message to Nabal,

David's response was, "Put on your swords." So David and his men put on their swords. About 400 men went with David while 200 of them stayed with the supplies.

His men protected us night and day. They were like a wall around us—they protected us while we were with them caring for the sheep.

Nabal was foolish to say what he did. Terrible trouble is coming to our master and all his family. You need to think of something to do."

Abigail rode her donkey down to the other side of the mountain. She met David and his men coming from the other direction.

David was saying, "I protected Nabal's property in the desert. I made sure not one of his sheep was missing. I did all that for nothing. I was good to him, but he was rude to me.

Abigail fell at his feet and said, "Sir, please let me talk to you. Listen to what I say. Blame me for what happened.

I didn't see the men you sent. Sir, don't pay any attention to that worthless man, Nabal. His name means ‘Foolish,' and that is what he is.

Please forgive me for doing wrong. I know the Lord will make your family strong because you fight his battles. People will never find anything bad about you as long as you live.

The Lord promised to do many good things for you, and he will keep his promises. He will make you leader over Israel.

The next morning, Nabal was sober, so his wife told him everything. He had a heart attack and became as stiff as a rock.

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Praise the Lord ! He judged Nabal to be wrong for insulting me and kept me from doing something wrong. The Lord made Nabal pay for what he did." Then David sent a message to Abigail and asked her to be his wife.

His servants went to Carmel with this message, "David sent us to get you. He wants you to be his wife."

Saul set up his camp by the road at Hakilah Hill, across from Jeshimon. David was out in the desert and saw that Saul had come out into the desert after him.

Then David went to where Saul had set up his camp. David saw where Saul and Abner were sleeping. (Abner son of Ner was the commander of Saul's army.) Saul was sleeping in the center of a circle of men that surrounded him.