Wife or mistress? He is the Savior of his body, the church"? May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 17 terms. He accepted the food she brought and sent her home with a promise that he would remember her good counsel and her kindness. We are told in 1 Samuel 18:20 that Michal loved David. Why did Jesus walk on the water? (AU) 30When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler(AV) over Israel, 31my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. New York: Houghton Mifflin 2000. Abigail and David - Abigail Was King David's Wisest Wife. She was also the mother of King Solomon. Considering her name always precedes Abigails name, this strongly suggest David married Ahinoam before he married Abigail. Is polygamy supported by 1 Corinthians 7:2. Answer Abigail was one of Davids wives. His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife., 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 lords servants. Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with Davids messengers and became his wife. Jesus sent out 70 Disciples to preach His Good News. He is just like his namehis name means Fool, and folly goes with him. What is the meaning of 1 Timothy 4:13 when it refers to the public reading of Scripture? 1 Samuel 25:3, 37 tell us that she was actually another mans wife before she was married to King David. Abigails Intervention Prevents a Bloodbath, Nabals Death and Abigails Marriage to David, Biblical Women in World and Hebrew Literature, The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. Fearing that David and his army would take what they wanted by force, Abigail was prompted to act. The answers are provided in 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles. Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things. When King David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent a proposal to Abigail to become his wife and she agreed. Jewish Women's Archive. 24 and 26), Davids restraint from slaying his rival demonstrates his worthiness of kingship. The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women, Copyright 19982023, Jewish Women's Archive. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Corrections? 36When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. Share Adelman, Rachel. The implication of scripture is that David recognized what an asset Abigail would be to him as a wife since she was clearly someone who managed well, protected her husband's interests, and could recognize dangers in time to avert disaster. David and Abigail, by Frans Pourbus the Elder, c. 1570/80, oil on canvas, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. Who Were the Nephilim Giants of the Bible? Old Testament Part 7. Why was Abigail still called "Nabal's wife" even after she married David? Does Psalms 90:10 indicate that the lifespan of man should only be 70-80 years? He is the Savior of his body, the church"? The LORD has also returned the evildoing of Nabal on his own head. Then David sent a proposal to Abigail, to take her as his wife. WebDavid Marries Abigail the Widow of Nabal 2 There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. Do you have to repent from all sin to enter heaven? WebDavid, Nabal and Abigail 25 Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Now Michal, Sauls daughter, loved David. One of the servants told Abigail, Nabals wife, David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. Astle, Cynthia. She then intercepts David to persuade him against fulfilling his violent oath (which the reader only hears retroactively, after she is seen approaching, v. 20). She then becomes his wife. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. Her story is found in 1 Samuel 25. The rabbis assert that when Merab died, Michal raised her sister's five children as if they were her own, so that Michal was acknowledged as their mother, though she was not married to Adriel, their father. Cynthia B. Astle is an award-winning journalist who covered religion for 25 years. Pr 20:1; Ecc 10:17; Isa 5:11, 22; 22:13; 28:7; 56:12; Hos 4:11, Dt 32:35; 1Sa 24:12; 26:10; 2Sa 6:7; 12:15, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow Gods Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People, NIV, Story of Jesus: Experience the Life of Jesus as One Seamless Story, NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Revelation, Paperback, Comfort Print. Ten days later God caused him to die (v. 37-38). Why was Abigail still called "Nabal's wife" even after she married David? Web~Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament. Other wives gave birth to nine more sons. 8Ask your own servants and they will tell you. All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts, That is, probably about 60 pounds or about 27 kilograms. Perhaps David, like other kings who appropriated the harems of their predecessors or rivals, strengthened his claim to the throne in this way. David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both became his wives. 2There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. Abigail. In Women in Scripture: A Dictionary of Named and Unnamed Women in the Hebrew Bible, the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books and the New Testament, edited by Carol Meyers, Toni Craven, and Ross S. Kraemer, 4344. When Abigail returns home, she finds her husband drunk from feasting like a king and waits until the morning to tell him what she has done (v. 36). 17Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. 1 Samuel 18:27 (NASB). http://netbible.com All rights reserved. Report We first encounter Ahinoam in Scripture in 1 Samuel 25:43 immediately after David marries Abigail. Report His wife Abigail inherited Nabal's fortune. 1. 1. (J), 7Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. Why did Jehoram kill his brother when he was made King? Then she apologized for Nabal's behavior, telling David that her husband's name means "boor" and that Nabal had acted like a boor toward David. What is the meaning of "peace be unto you" in the Bible? 3. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabals wrongdoing down on his own head., Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. This man was very wealthy;[ a] he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. Jonah was in the belly of the whale 4 days. Who is this son of Jesse? David didn't take the bait because in verse 19 Merab is married to Adriel the Meholathite, with whom she had 5 children. Riza Gano. Nabal then accuses David of disloyalty to Saul by saying, "There are many slaves nowadays who run away from their masters. In an attempt to save her husband, she hurried to meet David, urging him to halt his plans. WebDavid Marries Abigail the Widow of Nabal 2 There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. Then 1 Chronicles 3:9 adds this, All these were the sons of David, besides the sons of the concubines; and Tamar was their sister. There were only 8 people in Noahs Ark. Clarify When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. Enraged, David swears on oath: May God do thus and more to David, if by morning, I leave a single pisser against the wall! (v. 22). Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. VesuviusAugust 24, 79 AD. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. The most well-known mention of Nahash is in reference to the king of the Ammonites. As Abigail later asserts (v. 25), his character befits his name, Nabal, meaning fool or boor (see Prov 17:7, 21, and Isa 32:6). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. 15Yet these men were very good to us. In the city of Jerusalem, Davids eighth wife, Bathsheba, gave him four sons after the death of her first son. While there, the prophet Nathan tells David in 2 Samuel 12:8: "I would give you twice as much over," which the rabbis interpret to mean that the number of David's existing wives could be tripled: from six to 18. Michal and David: Michal Was King David's First Wife, Bathsheba, Mother of Solomon, Wife of King David, Biography of King Solomon: The Wisest Man Who Ever Lived, Abigail and David - Abigail Was King David's Wisest Wife. Vote Up Ahinoam is often listed with Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Camel. All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED. Start your free trial today! Scholars Dispute Whether David Married Merab, Amid All the Wives of David in the Bible 3 Stand Out, References for the Many Wives of David in the Bible. For example, King Saul, David's predecessor, offered both of his daughters at separate times as wives for David. The child eventually died (2 Samuel 12:15-23). She was considered by our sages to be among the 4 most beautiful women of Astle, Cynthia. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. David and Abigail, by Frans Pourbus the Elder, c. 1570/80, oil on canvas, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria. This man was very wealthy;[a] he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat(K) them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. by 1 Chronicles 3:9 (NASB). By diverting David from vengeance against Nabal, Abigail not only saved her family and its wealth; she also saved David from committing murders that could have brought retribution upon him. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today. About four hundred men went(P) up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. David had six wives while he ruled in Hebron as king of Judah. Share Her marriage gave her considerable social standing, judging by the fact that she had five maidservants (1 Samuel 25:42). You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. 24:7-26:25). In Samuel and the Deuteronomist: A Literary Study of the Deuteronomic History, Part 2, 1 Samuel, 20515. As soon as David heard that Nabal had died, he shouted praises to God and immediately sent a proposal of marriage to the wise, beautiful and rich Abigail. Please give your servants and your son David whatever(L) you can find for them.. Were they the best fighters? Williams cites David and Abigail's common characteristics: both were intelligent, charismatic leaders with good diplomatic and communicating skills, masters of diplomacy who knew how to play situations to their advantage, yet deceptive creatures who could feign victimhood while betraying the trust of others. This reveals that sometime after Uriah died, David and Bathsheba were married. I have heard your words and granted(BB) your request.. WebKing Davids third wife was Ahinoam of Jezreel. The name Abigail was also borne by Davids sister (1 Chronicles 2:16), who was the mother of Amasa, commander of the army of Absalom. 2. Jeremiah 9:23-24. (Judges 7:7). 17 terms. The name Abigail was also borne by Davids sister (1 Chronicles 2:16), who was the mother of Amasa, commander of the army of Absalom. "The Many Wives of David in the Bible." Could Ancient Sparta Defeat Ancient Rome? 1 Samuel 27:3 (NASB). This man was very wealthy;[ a] he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. She got down off her high horse, threw herself to the ground, fell at his feet and pleaded with David. We are told that she was extremely beautiful. When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the LORD, who has pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal and has kept back His servant from evil. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. "Nahash is the name of Jesse's wife, by whom he had this Abigail, as he had Zeruiah by another wife; so they were sisters by the father, but not by the mother." The Many Wives of David in the Bible. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. What biblical evidence is there for God allowing polygamy? She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs[b] of roasted grain,(W) a hundred cakes of raisins(X) and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 1 Samuel 25:43 (NASB). (Q), 14One of the servants told Abigail, Nabals wife, David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings,(R) but he hurled insults at them. Jesus sent out 70 Disciples to preach His Good News. She was one of Sauls two daughters (1 Samuel 14:49) and the younger of the two daughters. (Mark 6:48). The story of Abigail and David ranks almost as exciting and deceitful as that of David and his most famous wife, Bathsheba. All the names for our week days come from Roman and Norse/Anglo-Saxon gods. They did not mistreat(S) us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. She is listed six times by name in scripture. (AG) 24She fell at his feet and said: Pardon your servant, my lord,(AH) and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. However, a servant brought word of David's request and Nabal's rejection to Nabal's wife, Abigail. "Abigail: Bible." 1 Chronicles 14:3-5 (NASB), Resurrection Accounts Resurrection of Christ, Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . While the Bible names seven women as David's spouses, it's possible that he had more, as well as multiple concubines who may have borne him unaccounted-for children. 31 December 1999. Saul did this because he knew Michal loved David and she betrayed him. Since scripture describes both David and Abigail as good-looking people, it's entirely possible that some attraction pulled Abigail toward David. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. What is the meaning of "peace be unto you" in the Bible? Read the latest from JWA from your inbox. After placating David with sweet words and stores of food, Abigail returned to her home with Nabal. Since Ahinoams name usually precedes Abigails name, it is suggested that David married Ahinoam before he married Abigail, or that the name order signifies Ahinoams status as the mother of Davids firstborn son. A Feast Fit for a King: Food and Drink in the Abigail Story. In The Fate of King David: The Past and Present of a Biblical Icon, edited by Tod Linafelt, Timothy Beal, and Claudia V. Camp, 3854. After Saul heard about the deception, he punished her by giving her in marriage to Palti,the son of Laish (1 Samuel 25:44). Then they waited. Why did King David marry Abigail when he was already married to Michal? After David moved his capital to Jerusalem, he married Bathsheba. Good health to you and your household! "Who is this David?" Modern Persecution of Christians in China, Patriarch Jacobs Well & St. Philoumenous, Slaughter of the Theban Legion C. 286 AD, LapsiChristians Who Lapse/Abandon Their Faith, Evodias Named Followers of Christ Christians. Learn Religions, Sep. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/abigail-and-david-116669. When they told Saul, the thing was agreeable to him. Consequently, she decided to wait until the morning to tell Nabal what King David had planned to do and shared how she had saved him (v. 36-37). His folly there does become the cause of grief and pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause (v. 31). More likely, she is keenly perceptive about the shifting tides of history. The Bible does not mention King Davids mother by name. While running a protection racket in the area of Carmel, David asks for provisions for himself and his men but Nabal refuses, so the young warrior prepares for slaughter. Bodi, Daniel, ed. Start for FREE. "Abigail and David - Abigail Was King David's Wisest Wife." When the servants of David came to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her, saying, David has sent us to you to take you as his wife. She arose and bowed with her face to the ground and said, Behold, your maidservant is a maid to wash the feet of my lords servants. Then Abigail quickly arose, and rode on a donkey, with her five maidens who attended her; and she followed the messengers of David and became his wife. The Political Import of Davids Marriages. Journal of Biblical Literature 99 (1980): 50718. Learn Religions. Levenson, John D., and Baruch Halpern. David had also taken Ahinoam David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, After David moved his David had just said, Its been uselessall my watching over this fellows property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 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., Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, Go home in peace. When they arrived, they reported every word. Then Abigail returned home to a drunken husband who was holding a great feast. New International Version (NIV). Damaris Atwater was born in New Haven Colony on November 12, 1648, baptized on October 21, 1649, and died on December 14, 1711. The Bible describes Abigail as being an intelligent and beautiful woman, but sadly, her marriage was hard ( 1 Samuel 25:3 ). Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. A boor he might be, but Nabal was no fool; he realized that his wife's intervention saved him and their family from slaughter. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. But Ahinoam could have been the wife he preferred. Amid this numerical confusion, three of the many wives of David in the Bible stand out because their relationships provide significant insights into David's character. No, Jesus was not the first son of David and Bathsheba. She was a perfect wife. He was in high(BC) spirits and very drunk. Davids men turned around and went back. Consequently, she was able to save her husbands life (v. 18-35). All Rights Reserved. and his heart failed him and he became like a stone,and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. Abigail Wolcott married Oliver Ellsworth on December 10, 1772, providing him with the strength and stability to continue his highly productive life. How old was Esther when she married King Ahasuerus? She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seah of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. Adelman, Rachel. Ahinoam and Abigail are with David during his stay with King Achish of Gath (1 Sam 27:3), are taken captive when Amalekites raid Ziklag, Davids Philistine base (1 Sam 30:5), and are among those who go with David to Hebron when he becomes king over Judah (2 Sam 2:2). Rachel Adelman This may have been divine punishment for despising her husband, since David was the servant of the Lord. The rest of the chapter describes an avalanche of sins that follow in an attempt to cover up Davids adultery. Levenson, Jon D. 1 Samuel 25 as Literature and History.Catholic Biblical Quarterly40 (1978): 1128. Seven verses later in 1 Samuel 18:27, we are told that Saul gave Michal to David after he killed one hundred Philistines. But Scripture tells us that he had other wives plus a number of unknown concubines. 28Please forgive(AO) your servants presumption. 2 Samuel 5:13-16 (NASB). 4. Clarify Jewish Women says that in an effort to resolve the conflict, some rabbis argue that Merab didn't marry David until after her first husband died and that Michal didn't marry David until after her sister died. Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel, is the only woman in the Hebrew Bible who is described as both intelligent and beautiful. This passage also reveals that Bathshua was alternate name for Bathsheba since Bathshua is the mother of King Solomon. As a result, David decided to engage in sexual activity with her and made her pregnant. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. David is familiar to most people as a great hero in the Bible because of his confrontation with Goliath of Gath, a (giant) Philistine warrior. Then the couple could marry. (AB) He has paid(AC) me back evil(AD) for good. Protection in Carmel. In Tanakh Akhshav [The Bible Today], 1923. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealingshe was a Calebite. (Psalm 92:4-5). When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. It is additionally possible that Ahinoam had been Sauls wife before David married her. (H), 4While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. The other wife that verse 43 refers to is Abigail. Hebrew Bible Monographs 60.