Study Desk

And as she was riding on the ass and coming down by the covert of the mountain, behold, David and his men were coming up in her direction; and she met them.

The LORD do so and more also to his servant David, if I leave of all that belongs to him by morning any mature male.

And fell at his feet, and said, I beseech you, my lord, let this iniquity be upon me, my lord; and let your handmaid speak before you concerning this man Nabal.

For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and his folly is with him; but I, your handmaid, did not see the young men whom my lord sent.

And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabals heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk; wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning.

But it came to pass in the morning, when he had shaken off the effects of wine, that his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him and he became paralyzed.

And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hands of Nabal, and has kept his servant from evil; for the LORD has returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.

And Abigail hastened and arose, and rode upon an ass with five of her maidens who went after her; and she went with the messengers of David and became his wife.

David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and both of them became his wives.

But Saul had given Malchel his daughter, Davids wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and, behold, Saul lay asleep in the path, with his spear lying on the ground by his bedside; and Abner and the people lay round about him.

But David said to Abishai, Destroy him not; for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORDS anointed, and be guiltless?

David said furthermore, As the LORD lives, the LORD shall smite him; or the day of his death shall come; or he will be smitten in battle and perish.

The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth my hand against the LORDS anointed; but now take the spear that is by his bedside, and the jug of water, and let us go.

This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORDS anointed. And now see where the kings spear is, and the jug of water that was at his bedside.

Then David said, Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? Or what evil is in my hands?

Now therefore, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD has stirred you up against me, let us make an offering; but if it be of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out, that I should have no shelter in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.

The LORD renders to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not stretch forth my hand against the LORDS anointed.

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son; you have surely done great things, and also you have surely prevailed. So David went on his way, and Saul also returned to his house.

AND David said in his heart, Now if I should fall some day into the hands of Saul, it would not be good for me, but it is better for me that I should escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of seeking me any more in the territory of Israel; so I shall escape out of his hands.