Abigails quick actions prevent david from killing nabal and his servants back story. David sent ten men to remind nabal of the protection they had provided and to ask for gifts. Nabal was not only a fool, he was a rich fool one of the worst kinds. And david sent and communed with abigail, to take her to him to wife. The account of david and nabal is found in 1 samuel 25. Abigail a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance.
Abigail defuses a crisis between david and nabal 1 samuel. Bible character study on abigail bible verses, quotes. The commentary said, nabal inherited calebs estate. A certain man in maon, who had property there at carmel, was very wealthy. David, therefore, during the sheepshearing festivities, sent to. Nabal, david, and abigail discussion questions kids. A wealthy but churlish sheepmaster of maon whose business was in carmel 1 sam. The public humiliation of david was to be repaid with the blood of nabal s house 25.
From the outset, the narrator regards abigad positively and nabal negatively. But nabal was a fool, who invited retaliation, revenge, and death. He was chasing after david to kill him, then would recant when david had an opportunity. When david came to nabal asking food for his hungry men, this churlish man refused. Scripture last time we learned how david wanted to kill nabal because nabal had rudely rebuffed davids request for food. Nabal s shepherds and hired help were out in the fields taking care of all of nabal s investments, and these shepherds were in the cross fires of the philistines and the people they were fighting. God loved david and saw him, not as a rebellious slave, but as the future king of israel. Nabals shepherds and hired help were out in the fields taking care of all of nabals investments, and these shepherds were in the cross fires of the philistines and the people they were fighting. Then 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.
According to the 1st book of samuel chapter 25, nabal hebrew. David, out in the hills, heard that nabal was shearing his sheep. We can gain further understanding of the character of the nabal by studying i samuel 25, which relates the story of a man whose name actually was nabal. He was very great, and he had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats but the man was churlish and evil in his doings. We can gain further understanding of the character of the nabal by studying i samuel 25, which relates the.
Nabal went into a passion, as covetous men are apt to do, when asked for any thing, thinking thus to cover one sin with another. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in carmel. In abigails day, wives were expected to respect and obey. The 25th chapter of first samuel tells the story of two vastly different approaches to being a man. He was very great, and he had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats but the man was.
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. There are lots of men running away from their masters these days. Nabal smith fool was a sheepmaster on the confines of judea and the desert, in that part of the country which bore from its great conqueror the name of caleb. Study guide for 1 samuel 25 by david guzik blue letter bible. The bible recorded that nabal was harsh and behaved badly. Ellicotts bible commentary suggests, the largeness of the force showed how terribly david was in earnest, and how bent he was on wiping out the insult of nabal in blood. Nabal, the old testament character we read about in 1 samuel 25, was certainly a felio who had lost sight of these virtues, he was a bottomlinetype of guy. Nabal is not in the name book thats because nabal means fool. Nabal was from the clan of caleb, and his name means foola fact that suggests nabal may have been a nickname he earned by his harsh and evil behavior verse 3, bsb.
Nabal was a very rich man who had large flocks of sheep. The role of abigail in 1 samuel 25 andrews university. Nabal could expect a good profit with the shearing of 3,000 sheep. One of the shepherds that stood by and saw the reception davids messengers had met with, informed abigail, nabal s wife, who at once realized the danger that threatened her household.
Do you think nabals parents named him that on purpose, or was it some kind of nickname he picked up as he went through life. He is featured in a story in which he is threatened by david over an insult. So, abigail probably had no choice but to marry nabal. Nabal insultingly resented the demand, saying, who is david, and who is the son of jesse. Nabal is a striking illustration of a man with a name indicative of his nature.
The nabal, in his selfcentered arrogance, refuses to acknowledge a higher authority in his life. Foolish nabal returned davids kindness in a foolish and harsh way 25. In nabal, the rich sheepmaster, the rude refuser of the fairly earned gift, david saw a deadly political advisory who would hunt him down like a wild beast. Jul 29, 2014 there was a man and his name was nabal which really was not a very good name because it meant folly or foolish one.
Foolish, a descendant of caleb, owner of a large property in lands and flocks, at maon and carmel in the south of judah. The story of david and nabal continues when one of nabals servants told abigail about the situation. Abigail defuses a crisis between david and nabal 1 samuel 25. Discussion questions nabal, david, and abigail read 1 samuel 25. The bible says that this man was meanspirited and evil in the way he conducted business. He was under great obligations to david, for protecting him from the robbers of the desert. He was very great, and he had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. Nabals shepherds and hired help were out in the fields taking care.
Bible nt ot more sort topical greek hebrew atlas lib apoc bible search 1 samuel 25. What event sparked abigail to act against her husbands wishes 1 samuel 25. In the time of abigail and nabal, parents decided who their children would marry. Discussion questions nabal, david, and abigail read 1 samuel 25 why do you think nabal was so rude to davids messengers. She was an intelligent and attractive woman, but her husband was a hard man who did evil things 1 samuel 25. David sends young men to ask nabal for whatever he has v. David told abigail to go in peace, he would not hurt nabal soon after this, however, nabal died, when david heard that nabal died, he.
David sends you greetings, my friend, with his best wishes for you, your family, and all that is yours. It was customary in the sparsely populated regions near the border for groups of soldiers or mercenaries to provide protection for the local shepherds. In contrast, how does the bible describe abigails husband nabal 1 samuel 25. Nabal owned 3000 sheep and goats which he pastured near carmel. His shepherds and his flocks had been protected in the wilderness by david and his followers. The lord providentially intervened by sending nabals discerning and beautiful wife abigail to prevent david from carrying out his murderous intent. During his wanderings david came into that district, and hearing that nabal was about to shear his sheep. Nabal had a wife, abigail, who was the direct opposite of nabal. Brief history of old testament narrative criticism. Nabal, abigails husband, was a wealthy man who owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats 1 samuel 25.
Sep, 2012 nabal is not in the name book thats because nabal means fool. Jan 02, 2020 nabal sent davids servants back with insults for david, and david commanded his troops, each of you strap on your sword. There was a man and his name was nabal which really was not a very good name because it meant folly or foolish one. Beneficial versus detrimental models of manhood juxtaposed in the lives of david and nabal. Then abigail came to nabal, and behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king and nabals heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk.
Davids men have treated nabals shepherds kindly, protecting them from harm or at the very least not stealing anything themselves 1 sam. The bible says that his wifes name was abigail and she had good. Abigail in the bibleshe acted with discretion true faith. Free access to sermons on nabal, church sermons, illustrations on nabal, and powerpoints for preaching on nabal. Nov 14, 2016 the commentary said, nabal inherited calebs estate. The account states that nabal lived in the city of maon, and. Woman of widsom a study on the life of abigail by jade lee 4 w o m e n o f f a m s t u d y g u i d e after dismissing david, which was very foolish whereas he had no idea who david was or where he was from david could have been a king or a very rich man with an army, nabal further ranted on, shall i. Nabals wife was both beautiful and wise, in contrast to nabal himself. Nabal was shearing his sheep in carmel, 4 and david, who was in the wilderness, heard about it, 5 so he sent ten young men with orders to go to carmel, find nabal, and give him his greetings. David provided protection for his flocks at no expense, and it would be expected that nabal would have happily rewarded this kindness.
David sent a few of his men to see if nabal would grant an offering of food for his men. Aug 30, 2017 nabal owned 3000 sheep and goats which he pastured near carmel. He is featured in a story in which he is threatened by david over an insult, and ultimately killed by god. June 24, 2014 11 comments one morning after i had taught a womens bible study on the life of abigail, wife of nabal, a woman hustled over to me, elbows swinging. Please accept these gifts i bring and forgive nabals actions, david was impressed with this wise and kind woman. David, nabal and abigail now samuel died, and all israel assembled and mourned for him. June 24, 2014 11 comments one morning after i had taught a womens bible study on the life of abigail, wife of nabal, a woman hustled over to. Nabal sent davids servants back with insults for david, and david commanded his troops, each of you strap on your sword. Although assertive, nabal was the bible prototype of a resourcerich person who lacked interpersonal skills.
Jul 03, 2019 ellicotts bible commentary suggests, the largeness of the force showed how terribly david was in earnest, and how bent he was on wiping out the insult of nabal in blood. Then, in one of the longest speeches by a woman in scripture, abigail appeals to david to turn from his plan to destroy. David had a right to expect him to be generous at this time. Jul 23, 2012 nabal was a descendant of caleb who was one of the two faithful spies in the book of numbers. As we will see, nabal was a vivid personification of the vile traits of a goddenying fool. Woman of widsom a study on the life of abigail by jade lee 2 w o m e n o f f a m s t u d y g u i d e focus scripture. He thanked god that she had come and stopped the trouble between him and nabal. According to the biblical narrative, david who was not yet king.
Do you think nabals parents named him that on purpose, or was it some kind of nickname he picked up as he went through. This was a generous service and had been rendered without pay. Dena johnson martin christian blog and commentary on. 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. Nabal was a descendant of caleb who was one of the two faithful spies in the book of numbers. Jun 24, 2014 was abigail right to go behind nabals back. In the hebrew bible, it is unusual to find the wife.
Nabal is noteworthy for the brief interaction he had with david while david was on the run from king saul. We can see in this bible story that this man was truly a foolish man. When david heard that nabal was dead, he said, blessed be the lord who has avenged the insult i received at the hand of. David figures this means nabal owes him something, and he sends a delegation to ask nabal to donate some lambs for a feast for davids army. Davids request was reasonable, legitimate, and in harmony with the custom of the times. Nabal fool was a sheepmaster on the confines of judea and the desert, in that part of the country which bore from its great conqueror the name of caleb. Nabal s view may have been similar to that of saul, who hated david.
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