Study Desk

With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way.

When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.

So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.

His name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.

And David said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So David and all his men put on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!"

As Abigail came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, she saw David and his men coming down toward her, and she met them.

May God punish David, and ever so severely, if I let one of his men survive until morning."

She fell at his feet and said, "My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant.

My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord's young men whom you sent.

In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him and he became like a stone.

On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, "Blessed be the LORD who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head." Then David sent word to Abigail, asking for her in marriage.

When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, "David has sent us to take you as his wife."

So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David's messengers and became his wife.

David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives.

But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David's wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him.

That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him.

David added, "As surely as the LORD lives, the LORD Himself will strike him down; either his day will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish.