Ab'igail is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, known for her wisdom, beauty, and decisive action. Her account is primarily found in the First Book of Samuel, where she is introduced as the wife of Nabal, a wealthy but harsh man from Maon, whose business was in Carmel.

Background and Character:

Ab'igail is described as "intelligent and beautiful" (1 Samuel 25:3), contrasting sharply with her husband Nabal, who is described as "harsh and evil in his dealings." Her name, Ab'igail, means "my father's joy" or "source of joy," which is reflective of her character and the role she plays in the biblical narrative.

Encounter with David:

The most significant account involving Ab'igail occurs in 1 Samuel 25. David, who is not yet king, sends his men to request provisions from Nabal during the shearing season, a time of festivity and generosity. Nabal, however, responds with insults and refuses to help David and his men. This angers David, who prepares to take vengeance on Nabal and his household.

Ab'igail, upon learning of her husband's actions and the impending danger, acts swiftly and wisely. She gathers a generous supply of food and wine and sets out to meet David, without informing Nabal. When she encounters David, she humbly bows before him and takes responsibility for the situation, pleading for mercy and offering the provisions she brought.

In her speech to David, Ab'igail demonstrates remarkable insight and diplomacy. She acknowledges David's future as the leader of Israel and appeals to his conscience, urging him not to shed blood in anger or take vengeance into his own hands. Her words are recorded in 1 Samuel 25:28-31 , where she says, "Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles. May no evil be found in you all your days."

Outcome:

David is moved by Ab'igail's wisdom and her appeal. He blesses her for preventing him from bloodshed and accepts her gift, saying, "Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request" (1 Samuel 25:35).

After Ab'igail returns home, she waits until Nabal is sober to inform him of the events. Upon hearing the news, Nabal's heart fails, and he becomes like a stone. About ten days later, the LORD strikes Nabal, and he dies.

Following Nabal's death, David sends for Ab'igail, asking her to become his wife. She accepts, saying, "Here is your maidservant, ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants" (1 Samuel 25:41). Ab'igail becomes one of David's wives and later bears him a son named Chileab, also known as Daniel (2 Samuel 3:3; 1 Chronicles 3:1).

Legacy:

Ab'igail's account is often highlighted for her quick thinking, humility, and ability to avert disaster through peaceful means. Her actions not only save her household but also prevent David from committing an act of vengeance that could have marred his future reign. Her legacy is one of wisdom, courage, and peacemaking, making her a revered figure in biblical history.Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)

1 Samuel 25:3
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful face: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
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1 Samuel 25:14
But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, "Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to Greet our master; and he railed at them.
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1 Samuel 25:18
Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two bottles of wine, five sheep ready dressed, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.
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1 Samuel 25:23
When Abigail saw David, she hurried, and alighted from her donkey, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground.
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1 Samuel 25:32
David said to Abigail, "Blessed is Yahweh, the God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me!
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1 Samuel 25:36
Abigail came to Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken. Therefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
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1 Samuel 25:39
When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "Blessed is Yahweh, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and has kept back his servant from evil. Yahweh has returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head." David sent and spoke concerning Abigail, to take her to him as wife.
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1 Samuel 25:40
When the servants of David had come to Abigail to Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, "David has sent us to you, to take you to him as wife."
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1 Samuel 25:42
Abigail hurried, and arose, and rode on a donkey, with five ladies of hers who followed her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
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1 Samuel 27:3
David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
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1 Samuel 30:5
David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
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2 Samuel 2:2
So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
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2 Samuel 3:3
and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
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1 Chronicles 2:16
and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
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1 Chronicles 2:17
Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
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1 Chronicles 3:1
Now these were the sons of David, who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn, Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second, Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess;
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Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)
Ab'igail. Abigail, Ab'igail. Abigal . Multi-Version Concordance Ab'igail
(16 Occurrences). 1 Samuel 25:3 Now the name of the man ...
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Abigal (1 Occurrence)

/a/abigal.htm - 10k

Abigail (18 Occurrences)

/a/abigail.htm - 17k

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