David, Nabal and Abigail

1 Samuel 25
Bible Verse: So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her
maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. 1
Samuel 25:42

Saul has been chasing David and he finally caught up with him last week. But, it
didn’t happen as he planned. Saul took 3,000 men and went to the Rocks of the
Wild Goats. They stopped at the sheepfolds by the roads and Saul went into a
cave. He didn’t know that David and his men were staying at the back of that
same cave.
David snuck up behind Saul and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Once Saul left,
David left the cave and called out to Saul. David told Saul that “See, here is part of
your robe. I could have killed you, but I do not intend to hurt you! Why are you
looking for me to kill me?” Saul realized that David was righteous (good) and he
had been treating David badly. Saul realized that David would be the next king
and he would be a good one. They made promises and Saul went home. David
went back to his stronghold.
Beginning with today’s chapter, we learn that the prophet Samuel has died. The
people gathered together to mourn and bury him. David went to the Wilderness
of Paran.
Nabal lived in Maon and he had business in Carmel. He was very rich. He had
3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. He was in Carmel shearing his sheep. His wife’s
name was Abigail. She was beautiful and smart. But, Nabal was mean and evil.
When David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep in Carmel, David sent ten
young men to see him. David told them to tell Nabal that “They were sent by
David and he has heard Nabal is shearing the sheep. Nabal’s shepherds have been
with David and have been kept safe. Their belongings have been kept safe. Nabal
can ask his men and they will verify this. So, we have come to you on feast day
requesting food for David and his men.”
Nabal answered by asking “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are so
many servants that leave their masters! Why should I give bread, water and meat
that I have to men I don’t even know? The food is for my shearers.”
So David’s men went back to David and told him what Nabal said. David told his
men to get their swords and get ready to fight. About 400 men went with David
and 200 stayed with the supplies.
One of the men told Nabal’s wife, Abigail, that David had sent messengers to talk
to Nabal. He told her “Nabal was angry and sent them away. But, David’s men
have been very good to us. They kept us safe and our belongings were safe while
David’s men were with us. They ‘were a wall to us’ day and night while we took
care of the sheep. Please think about doing something because David is going to
fight against Nabal and his workers. Nabal is so evil that we can’t ask him for
help.”
Abigail hurried and took 200 loaves of bread, two wines, five sheep ready to eat,
some roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins and 200 fig cakes. She loaded the food
on donkeys and told her servants to go ahead and she would follow them. She
didn’t tell Nabal where she was going.
Abigail rode a donkey and met David on the way. David told her that he had been
taking care of Nabal’s shepherds for nothing because Nabal has repaid evil for the
good that he has done. David has been protecting Nabal’s shepherds and sheep.
David asked to be paid for his work on feast day, but Nabal refused to pay David.
David told Abigail that he planned to kill all the men before morning. Abigail got
off her donkey and bowed down to David. She begged him to listen to her. She
said that “She knows that Nabal is cruel and is a fool. But, she didn’t see or talk to
the men that David had sent. Please accept this gift that she brought. When David
is king over Israel, have no grief and remember me.”
David told Abigail “Blessed is the Lord because He sent you today! And blessed is
your advice because you have kept me from killing today. Go in peace!”
The next morning, Abigail told Nabal about David and what almost happened. His
heart died and he was like a stone. He died 10 days later. When David heard that
Nabal had died, he asked Abigail to marry him. She agreed and rode her donkey
to meet David with five of her servants. David also married Ahinoam. David’s first
wife, Michal (Saul’s daughter) had married someone else while he was gone.

www.biblefunforkids.com