1 Samuel 25 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

David, Nabal and Abigail

1 When Samuel died, the whole nation of Israel gathered together. They were filled with sorrow because he was dead. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David went down into the Desert of Paran. 2 A certain man in Maon was very wealthy. He owned property there at Carmel. He had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep. He was clipping the wool off the sheep in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal. His wife’s name was Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But her husband was rude and mean in the way he treated others. He was from the family of Caleb. 4 David was staying in the Desert of Paran. While he was there, he heard that Nabal was clipping the wool off his sheep. 5 So he sent for ten young men. He said to them, ‘Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him for me. 6 Say to him, “May you live a long time! May everything go well with you and your family! And may things go well with everything that belongs to you! 7 ‘ “I hear that you are clipping the wool off your sheep. When your shepherds were with us, we treated them well. The whole time they were at Carmel nothing that belonged to them was stolen. 8 Ask your own servants. They’ll tell you. We’ve come to you now at a happy time of the year. Please be kind to my men. Please give me and my men anything you can find for us.” ’ 9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal the message from David. Then they waited. 10 Nabal answered David’s servants, ‘Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are running away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I give away my bread and water? Why should I give away the meat I’ve prepared for those who clip the wool off my sheep? Why should I give food to men who come from who knows where?’ 12 So David’s men turned round and went back. When they arrived, they reported to David every word Nabal had spoken. 13 David said to his men, ‘Each of you put on your swords!’ So they did. David put his sword on too. About 400 men went up with David. Two hundred men stayed behind with the supplies. 14 One of the servants warned Abigail, Nabal’s wife. He said, ‘David sent some messengers from the desert to give his greetings to our master. But Nabal shouted at them and was rude to them. 15 David’s men had been very good to us. They treated us well. The whole time we were near them out in the fields, nothing was stolen. 16 We were taking care of our sheep near them. During that time, they were like a wall around us night and day. They kept us safe. 17 Now think it over. See what you can do. Horrible trouble will soon come to our master and his whole family. He’s such an evil man that no one can even talk to him.’ 18 Abigail didn’t waste any time. She got 200 loaves of bread and two bottles of wine. The bottles were made out of animal skins. She got five sheep that were ready to be cooked. She got 25 kilograms of corn that had been cooked. She got 100 raisin cakes. And she got 200 cakes of pressed figs. She loaded all of it on the backs of donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, ‘Go on ahead. I’ll follow you.’ But she didn’t tell her husband Nabal about it. 20 Abigail rode her donkey into a mountain valley. There she saw David and his men. They were coming down towards her. 21 David had just said, ‘Everything we’ve done hasn’t been worth a thing! I watched over that fellow’s property in the desert. I made sure none of it was stolen. But he has paid me back evil for good. 22 I won’t leave even one of his men alive until morning. If I do, may God punish me greatly!’ 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bowed down in front of David with her face towards the ground. 24 She fell at his feet. She said, ‘Pardon your servant, sir. Please let me speak to you. Listen to what I’m saying. Let me take the blame myself. 25 Please don’t pay any attention to that evil man Nabal. His name means Foolish Person. And that’s exactly what he is. He’s always doing foolish things. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to see the men you sent. 26 Sir, the LORD has kept you from killing Nabal and his men. He has kept you from using your own hands to get even. So may what’s about to happen to Nabal happen to all your enemies. May it happen to everyone who wants to harm you. And may it happen just as surely as the LORD your God and you are alive. 27 I’ve brought a gift for you. Give it to the men who follow you. 28 ‘Please forgive me if I shouldn’t have done that. The LORD your God will certainly give you and your family line a kingdom that will last. That’s because you fight the LORD’s battles. You won’t do anything wrong as long as you live. 29 Someone may chase you and try to kill you. But the LORD your God will keep your life safe like a treasure hidden in a bag. And he’ll destroy your enemies. Their lives will be thrown away, just as a stone is thrown from a sling. 30 The LORD will do for you every good thing he promised to do. He’ll appoint you ruler over Israel. 31 When that happens, you won’t have this heavy load on your mind. You won’t have to worry about how you killed people without any reason. You won’t have to worry about how you got even. The LORD your God will give you success. When that happens, please remember me.’ 32 David said to Abigail, ‘Give praise to the LORD. He is the God of Israel. He has sent you today to find me. 33 May the LORD bless you for what you have done. You have shown a lot of good sense. You have kept me from killing Nabal and his men this day. You have kept me from using my own hands to get even. 34 It’s a good thing you came quickly to meet me. If you hadn’t come, not one of Nabal’s men would have been left alive by sunrise. And that’s just as sure as the LORD, the God of Israel, is alive. He has kept me from harming you.’ 35 Then David accepted from her what she had brought him. He said, ‘Go home in peace. I’ve heard your words. I’ll do what you have asked.’ 36 Abigail went back to Nabal. He was having a dinner party in the house. It was the kind of dinner a king would have. He had been drinking too much wine. He was very drunk. So she didn’t tell him anything at all until sunrise. 37 The next morning Nabal wasn’t drunk anymore. Then his wife told him everything. When she did, his heart grew weak. He became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal down. And he died. 39 David heard that Nabal was dead. So he said, ‘Give praise to the LORD. Nabal was rude to me. But the LORD stood up for me. He has kept me from doing something wrong. He has paid Nabal back for the wrong things he did.’ Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel. They said to Abigail, ‘David has sent us to you. He wants you to come back with us and become his wife.’ 41 Abigail bowed down with her face towards the ground. She said, ‘I am your servant. I’m ready to serve him. I’m ready to wash the feet of his servants.’ 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and went with David’s messengers. Her five female servants went with her. She became David’s wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam from Jezreel. Both of them became his wives. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s first wife, to Paltiel. Paltiel was from Gallim. He was the son of Laish.

New International Version

from Biblica

David, Nabal and Abigail

1 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.^[1] 2 A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3 His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings – he was a Calebite. 4 While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5 So he sent ten young men and said to them, ‘Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6 Say to him: “Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours! 7 ‘ “Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not ill-treat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8 Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favourable towards my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.” ’ 9 When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited. 10 Nabal answered David’s servants, ‘Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11 Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?’ 12 David’s men turned round and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13 David said to his men, ‘Each of you strap on your sword!’ So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. 14 One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, ‘David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15 Yet these men were very good to us. They did not ill-treat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16 Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17 Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no-one can talk to him.’ 18 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs^[2] of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, ‘Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.’ But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending towards her, and she met them. 21 David had just said, ‘It’s been useless – all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22 May God deal with David,^[3] be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!’ 23 When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said: ‘Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name – his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. 26 And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. 27 And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you. 28 ‘Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. 29 Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30 When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, 31 my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.’ 32 David said to Abigail, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33 May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34 Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.’ 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought to him and said, ‘Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.’ 36 When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until daybreak. 37 Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. 38 About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died. 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, ‘Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.’ Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40 His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, ‘David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.’ 41 She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, ‘I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.’ 42 Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife. 43 David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. 44 But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel^[4] son of Laish, who was from Gallim.

English Standard Version

from Crossway

The Death of SamuelDavid and Abigail

1 Now Samuel died. And all Israel assembled and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. (Ge 50:10; Nu 10:12; Nu 20:29; De 34:8; 1Sa 1:19; 1Sa 28:3; 1Ki 2:34)

Ge 50:10Nu 10:12Nu 20:29De 34:81Sa 1:191Sa 28:31Ki 2:34

2 And there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. (Ge 38:13; Jos 15:55; 1Sa 23:24; 2Sa 13:23)

Ge 38:13Jos 15:551Sa 23:242Sa 13:23

3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful, but the man was harsh and badly behaved; he was a Calebite. (1Sa 30:14) 4 David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. (1Sa 25:2) 5 So David sent ten young men. And David said to the young men, “Go up to Carmel, and go to Nabal and greet him in my name. 6 And thus you shall greet him: ‘Peace be to you, and peace be to your house, and peace be to all that you have. (1Ch 12:18; Mt 10:13; Lu 10:5) 7 I hear that you have shearers. Now your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing all the time they were in Carmel. (1Sa 25:15; 1Sa 25:21) 8 Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.’” (Es 8:17; Es 9:19; Es 9:22) 9 When David’s young men came, they said all this to Nabal in the name of David, and then they waited. 10 And Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. (Jud 9:28; Jud 12:4) 11 Shall I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers and give it to men who come from I do not know where?” (Jud 8:6; 1Sa 22:2) 12 So David’s young men turned away and came back and told him all this. 13 And David said to his men, “Every man strap on his sword!” And every man of them strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. And about four hundred men went up after David, while two hundred remained with the baggage. (1Sa 22:2; 1Sa 23:13; 1Sa 27:2; 1Sa 30:24)

1Sa 22:21Sa 23:131Sa 27:21Sa 30:24

14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he railed at them. 15 Yet the men were very good to us, and we suffered no harm, and we did not miss anything when we were in the fields, as long as we went with them. (1Sa 25:7; 1Sa 25:21) 16 They were a wall to us both by night and by day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. (Job 1:10) 17 Now therefore know this and consider what you should do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his house, and he is such a worthless man that one cannot speak to him.” (De 13:13; 1Sa 20:7) 18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs^[1] of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 19 And she said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them. 21 Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. (1Sa 25:7; 1Sa 25:15; Ps 109:5; Pr 17:13)

1Sa 25:71Sa 25:15Ps 109:5Pr 17:13

22 God do so to the enemies of David^[2] and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.” (Ru 1:17) 23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. (Ge 24:64; Jos 15:18; Jud 1:14; Ru 2:10; 1Sa 25:41)

Ge 24:64Jos 15:18Jud 1:14Ru 2:101Sa 25:41

24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. (2Sa 14:9) 25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal^[3] is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. (1Sa 25:17) 26 Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. (Ge 20:6; 1Sa 20:3; 2Sa 18:32; Ro 12:19; Heb 10:30)

Ge 20:61Sa 20:32Sa 18:32Ro 12:19Heb 10:30

27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. (Ge 33:11; 1Sa 30:26; 2Ki 5:15) 28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. (1Sa 2:35; 1Sa 18:17; 2Sa 7:11; 2Sa 7:27; 1Ki 9:5; 1Ki 11:38; 1Ch 17:10; 1Ch 17:25)

1Sa 2:351Sa 18:172Sa 7:112Sa 7:271Ki 9:51Ki 11:381Ch 17:101Ch 17:25

29 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. (Jer 10:18) 30 And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince^[4] over Israel, 31 my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.” (1Sa 25:26) 32 And David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! (Ge 24:27; Ps 41:13; Ps 72:18; Lu 1:68)

Ge 24:27Ps 41:13Ps 72:18Lu 1:68

33 Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt and from working salvation with my own hand! (1Sa 25:26) 34 For as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from hurting you, unless you had hurried and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” (Ru 3:13; 1Sa 25:26) 35 Then David received from her hand what she had brought him. And he said to her, “Go up in peace to your house. See, I have obeyed your voice, and I have granted your petition.” (1Sa 1:17) 36 And Abigail came to Nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light. (1Sa 22:15; 2Sa 13:23; 2Sa 13:28; 1Ki 21:7)

1Sa 22:152Sa 13:232Sa 13:281Ki 21:7

37 In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things, and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38 And about ten days later the Lord struck Nabal, and he died. (1Sa 26:10) 39 When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Blessed be the Lord who has avenged the insult I received at the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from wrongdoing. The Lord has returned the evil of Nabal on his own head.” Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her as his wife. (1Sa 24:15; 1Sa 25:26; 1Sa 25:32; 1Sa 25:33; 1Ki 2:44; Ps 7:16; So 8:8; Eze 17:19)

1Sa 24:151Sa 25:261Sa 25:321Sa 25:331Ki 2:44Ps 7:16So 8:8Eze 17:19

40 When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they said to her, “David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife.” 41 And she rose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, “Behold, your handmaid is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” (Ru 2:10) 42 And Abigail hurried and rose and mounted a donkey, and her five young women attended her. She followed the messengers of David and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and both of them became his wives. (Jos 15:56; 1Sa 27:3; 1Sa 30:5; 2Sa 2:2; 2Sa 3:2; 1Ch 3:1)

Jos 15:561Sa 27:31Sa 30:52Sa 2:22Sa 3:21Ch 3:1

44 Saul had given Michal his daughter, David’s wife, to Palti the son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

King James Version

1 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. 4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. 5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: 6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity , Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. 7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. 8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. 9 And when David' young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. 10 And Nabal answered David' servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. 11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be ? 12 So David' young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. 13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. 14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal' wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. 15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: 16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. 18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn , and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. 19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. 20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. 21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. 22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, 24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be : and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. 25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is , so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send. 26 Now therefore, my lord, as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal. 27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord. 28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days. 29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling. 30 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; 31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid. 32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: 33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. 34 For in very deed, as the LORD God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person. 36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal' heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. 37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38 And it came to pass about ten days after , that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died. 39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. 40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife. 41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord. 42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife. 43 David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives. 44 But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David' wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim.

Lutherbibel 2017

from Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft

Samuels Tod David und Abigajil

1 Und Samuel starb, und ganz Israel versammelte sich und hielt ihm die Totenklage. Und sie begruben ihn in seinem Hause zu Rama. David aber machte sich auf und zog hinab in die Wüste Paran. (1Sa 28:3) 2 Und es war ein Mann in Maon, der hatte sein Gut in Karmel, und der Mann hatte sehr großes Vermögen und besaß dreitausend Schafe und tausend Ziegen. Und es begab sich, dass er eben seine Schafe schor in Karmel. (Jos 15:55; 1Sa 15:12) 3 Der Mann hieß Nabal, seine Frau aber hieß Abigajil. Und sie war eine Frau von Verstand und schön von Angesicht, der Mann aber war hart und boshaft in seinem Tun und war ein Kalebiter. 4 Als nun David in der Wüste hörte, dass Nabal seine Schafe schor, 5 sandte er zehn Männer aus und sprach zu ihnen: Geht hinauf nach Karmel, und wenn ihr zu Nabal kommt, so grüßt ihn freundlich in meinem Namen 6 und sprecht: Glück zu! Friede sei mit dir und deinem Hause und mit allem, was du hast! 7 Ich habe gehört, dass du Schafschur hast. Nun, deine Hirten sind mit uns zusammen gewesen; wir haben ihnen nichts zuleide getan und sie haben nichts vermisst, solange sie in Karmel gewesen sind. 8 Frage deine Leute danach, die werden’s dir sagen. Und lass meine Männer Gnade finden vor deinen Augen, denn wir sind an einem Festtag gekommen. Gib deinen Knechten und deinem Sohn David, was du zur Hand hast. 9 Und als die Männer Davids hinkamen und in Davids Namen alle diese Worte mit Nabal redeten und ruhig warteten, 10 da antwortete Nabal den Knechten Davids: Wer ist David? Und wer ist der Sohn Isais? Es gibt jetzt viele Knechte, die ihren Herren davongelaufen sind. (Jud 9:28) 11 Sollte ich mein Brot und mein Wasser nehmen und mein Fleisch, das ich für meine Scherer geschlachtet habe, und Leuten geben, von denen ich nicht weiß, wo sie her sind? (Jud 8:6) 12 Da wandten sich die Männer Davids um und gingen ihres Weges. Und als sie zu ihm zurückkamen, sagten sie ihm das alles. 13 Da sprach David zu seinen Männern: Gürte sich ein jeder sein Schwert um! Und jeder gürtete sich sein Schwert um, und auch David gürtete sich sein Schwert um, und etwa vierhundert Mann zogen ihm nach, aber zweihundert blieben bei dem Tross. 14 Aber der Abigajil, Nabals Frau, sagte es einer von den Leuten und sprach: Siehe, David hat Boten gesandt aus der Wüste, unsern Herrn zu grüßen, er aber hat sie angeschrien. 15 Aber die Männer sind uns doch sehr nützlich gewesen und haben uns nichts zuleide getan, und wir haben nichts vermisst, solange wir mit ihnen umherzogen, wenn wir auf dem Felde waren, 16 sondern sie sind wie eine Mauer um uns gewesen Tag und Nacht, solange wir die Schafe bei ihnen gehütet haben. 17 So bedenke nun und sieh zu, was du tust; denn es ist gewiss ein Unheil beschlossen über unsern Herrn und über sein ganzes Haus. Er aber ist ein heilloser Mensch, dem niemand etwas zu sagen wagt. 18 Da eilte Abigajil und nahm zweihundert Brote und zwei Krüge Wein und fünf zubereitete Schafe und fünf Scheffel Röstkorn und hundert Rosinenkuchen und zweihundert Feigenkuchen und lud alles auf Esel 19 und sprach zu ihren Leuten: Geht vor mir her; siehe, ich will sogleich hinter euch herkommen. Und sie sagte ihrem Mann Nabal nichts davon. 20 Und als sie auf dem Esel ritt und hinabzog im Schutz des Berges, siehe, da kamen David und seine Männer hinab ihr entgegen, sodass sie auf sie stieß. 21 David aber hatte gedacht: Nun hab ich alles umsonst behütet, was der da in der Wüste hat, sodass nichts vermisst wurde von allem, was er hat; und er vergilt mir Gutes mit Bösem! (Ps 35:12) 22 Gott tue mir dies und noch mehr, wenn ich ihm bis zum lichten Morgen einen Einzigen übrig lasse, der an die Wand pisst, von allem, was er hat. 23 Als nun Abigajil David sah, stieg sie eilends vom Esel und fiel vor David nieder und beugte sich zur Erde (Ru 2:10; 1Sa 25:41) 24 und fiel ihm zu Füßen und sprach: Ach, mein Herr, auf mich allein falle die Schuld! Lass deine Magd reden vor deinen Ohren und höre die Worte deiner Magd! 25 Mein Herr achte nicht auf diesen heillosen Mann, diesen Nabal; denn er ist, wie er heißt. Er heißt »Narr«, und Narrheit ist bei ihm. Ich aber, deine Magd, habe die Männer meines Herrn nicht gesehen, die du gesandt hast. 26 Nun aber, mein Herr, so wahr der HERR lebt und so wahr du selbst lebst: Der HERR hat dich davor bewahrt, in Blutschuld zu geraten und dir mit eigener Hand zu helfen. So sollen deine Feinde und alle, die meinem Herrn übel wollen, wie Nabal werden! 27 Hier ist die Segensgabe, die deine Magd meinem Herrn gebracht hat; das soll den Männern gegeben werden, die meinem Herrn folgen. (Ge 33:11) 28 Vergib deiner Magd ihr Vergehen! Der HERR wird meinem Herrn ein beständiges Haus bauen, denn du führst des HERRN Kriege. Es möge nichts Böses an dir gefunden werden dein Leben lang. (1Sa 2:35; 2Sa 7:11; 2Sa 7:16) 29 Und wenn sich ein Mensch erheben wird, dich zu verfolgen und dir nach dem Leben zu trachten, so soll das Leben meines Herrn eingebunden sein im Bündlein der Lebendigen bei dem HERRN, deinem Gott, aber das Leben deiner Feinde soll er fortschleudern mit der Schleuder. (Ps 69:29) 30 Wenn dann der HERR meinem Herrn all das Gute tun wird, das er dir zugesagt hat, und dich zum Fürsten bestellt hat über Israel, (2Sa 5:2) 31 so wird’s dem Herzen meines Herrn nicht ein Anstoß noch Ärgernis sein, dass du unschuldiges Blut vergossen und dir selber geholfen habest. Und wenn der HERR meinem Herrn wohltun wird, so wollest du an deine Magd denken. 32 Da sprach David zu Abigajil: Gelobt sei der HERR, der Gott Israels, der dich heute mir entgegengesandt hat, 33 und gesegnet sei deine Klugheit, und gesegnet seist du, dass du mich heute davon zurückgehalten hast, in Blutschuld zu geraten und mir mit eigener Hand zu helfen. 34 Wahrlich, so wahr der HERR, der Gott Israels, lebt, der mich davor bewahrt hat, übel an dir zu tun: Wärest du nicht eilends mir begegnet, so wäre dem Nabal bis zum lichten Morgen nicht ein Einziger übrig geblieben, der an die Wand pisst. 35 Also nahm David aus ihrer Hand, was sie ihm gebracht hatte, und sprach zu ihr: Zieh mit Frieden hinauf in dein Haus; sieh, ich habe auf deine Stimme gehört und dein Antlitz erhoben. 36 Als aber Abigajil zu Nabal kam, siehe, da hatte er ein Mahl zubereitet in seinem Hause wie eines Königs Mahl, und sein Herz war guter Dinge, und er war sehr betrunken. Sie aber sagte ihm nichts, weder wenig noch viel, bis an den lichten Morgen. 37 Als es aber Morgen geworden und die Trunkenheit von Nabal gewichen war, sagte ihm seine Frau alles. Da erstarb sein Herz in seinem Leibe, und er ward wie ein Stein. 38 Und nach zehn Tagen schlug der HERR den Nabal, dass er starb. 39 Als David hörte, dass Nabal tot war, sprach er: Gelobt sei der HERR, der meine Schmach gerächt hat an Nabal und seinen Knecht abgehalten hat von einer bösen Tat! Der HERR hat dem Nabal seine böse Tat auf seinen Kopf vergolten. Und David sandte hin und ließ Abigajil sagen, dass er sie zur Frau nehmen wolle. 40 Und als die Knechte Davids zu Abigajil nach Karmel kamen, redeten sie mit ihr und sprachen: David hat uns zu dir gesandt, dass er dich zur Frau nehme. 41 Sie stand auf und fiel nieder auf ihr Angesicht zur Erde und sprach: Siehe, deine Magd ist bereit, den Knechten meines Herrn zu dienen und ihre Füße zu waschen. 42 Und Abigajil machte sich eilends auf und setzte sich auf einen Esel, und ihre fünf Mägde gingen hinter ihr her. Und sie zog den Boten Davids nach und wurde seine Frau. (1Sa 27:3; 1Sa 30:5; 2Sa 2:2; 2Sa 3:3)

1Sa 27:31Sa 30:52Sa 2:22Sa 3:3

43 Auch hatte David Ahinoam von Jesreel zur Frau genommen; sie wurden beide seine Frauen. 44 Saul aber hatte seine Tochter Michal, Davids Frau, Palti, dem Sohn des Lajisch aus Gallim, gegeben. (2Sa 3:14; Isa 10:30)