DAVID AND ABIGAIL In the last chapter, the violent Saul fell into the hand of the meek and humble David, who refrained from doing him any harm. And now, as the silly Nabal refused to offer a gift to David’s servants who guarded his sheep, and reviled them; David intended to avenge himself against him (human weakness! ); But the Lord sent him a wise woman to keep him from doing that, and the prophet listened to her advice (meekness! ). 1- Death of the prophet Samuel 1. 2- The folly of Nabal 2 – 13. 3- The prudence and wisdom of Abigail 14 – 31. 4- David praises Abigail 32 – 35. 5- David marries Abigail 26 – 44. 1- DEATH OF THE PROPHET SAMUEL After a long life of strife - Samuel was called when he was 12 years of age; and faithfully ministered to the Lord and His people, until he became 90 years old – Samuel died. The Israelites gathered together and lamented him, as they did for the prophet Moses (Deuteronomy 34: 8); and buried him in Ramah, on the heights of Benjamin; most probably in the backyard or in the garden of his house as it was not possible to bury him inside the building itself, as that would be against the statutes of the law (Numbers 19: 16). Did David meet with Saul and Jonathan As it was the custom to proclaim a general amnesty on such important occasions? David came to bid his mentor, spiritual father, true friend, and support, the final farewell. Most probably he could not have much contact with Saul except within the limit of the funeral formalities. 2- THE FOLLY OF NABAL After the funeral, David went down to the wilderness of Paran (1 Samuel 25: 1); a wide wilderness almost without inhabitants; south of Judea, bordered eastward by the land of Edom, southward by the wilderness of Sinai, and westward by the wilderness of Shur. It was mentioned in the Septuagint version, that he went to ‘Maon,’ one mile from the Carmel, and eight miles south of Hebron. The presence of David and his men in that region, was a source of peace and assurance, particularly for the shepherds, who were continuously exposed to the attacks of the Amalekites and the Philistines, beside those of the wild beasts.. David and his men were like a wall protecting the pasture lands, among which were those of Nabal who was very rich, having 3000 sheep and 1000 goats. His shepherds expressed how they were indebted to David and his men for protecting them saying: “The men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields; They were wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep” (1 Samuel 25: 15, 16) His name ‘Nabal’ means in Hebrew (foolish) (Psalm 14: 1). And as his wife ‘Abigail’ said about him to appease the anger of David: “For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him” (1 Samuel 25: 25) How unfortunate that wife was, being married to such an idiotic man; She, bitterly, had to admit his folly, to save him and herself, and to save David from the consequences of his anger and his tendency to avenge himself. I wish that we, 2 likewise, admit our folly before the Son of David, the Savior of our souls, the ‘Wisdom’ itself, to let Him dwell in our hearts, to uproot the darkness of folly from our depths. The wise Solomon, in the book of proverbs, warns us against folly; saying: “A wise son makes a glad father; But a foolish son is the grief of his mother...Wise people store up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction....To do evil is like sport to the fool; But a man of understanding has wisdom” (Proverbs 10) Unfortunately, that foolish man was a descendant of ‘Caleb’ who dwelt in Hebron and its neighborhood (Joshua 15: 13); namely he came out of an honorable offspring; Yet that heritage did not give him credit; as of him it was said: “The man was harsh and evil in his doing” (1 Samuel 25: 3). David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was sheering his sheep (1 Samuel 25: 4); and that was counted as time for joy, food, drinks, and abundant giving; So David sent to Nabal, saying: “Peace be to you, peace be to your house, and peace to all that you have. Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherd were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. 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 comes to your hands to your servants and to your son David” (1 Samuel 25: 6 - 9) David sent to Nabal politely and meekly, like a son asking from his father; and instructed his messengers not to add anything more to his words, to avoid any probability of a wrong word that could be attributed to David. Nabal indecently and roughly responded to that nice message; disregarding the real and well-known reason behind David’s situation; and counted him as rebellious against his master the king for which he deserved nothing good as an outlaw (1 Samuel 25: 10. 11). His response revealed his greed saying: “Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?“ (1 Samuel 25: 11) When David heard what Nabal said to his servants, he got very angry, and commanded them to gird on their swords, which he also did. 400 men went with him, and 200 stayed with the supplies. David, who was known for his self-restraint and humility, now in some moments of weakness, was about to commit a crime, that would have grieved his heart for the rest of his life; and would have been an offense to his people when the time came for him to reign. 3- THE PRUDENCE AND WISDOM OF ABIGAIL If the folly of Nabal was about to get him to perdition, the wisdom of his wife Abigail appeased the anger of David, kept him from avenging himself, and prevented the certain destruction that was to befall her man and herself by David’s men; and qualified herself as well to become the wife of David, the prophet and king. “She was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance” (1 Samuel 25: 3). She was filled with wisdom, that was reflected on her features, to give her a beautiful appearance.. There are many good looking women, but without wisdom, they lose the value of their beauty, that can lead into the destruction of their personality and life. We need to have wisdom as a nature in our inner being, combined with our outer beautiful appearance; namely, we need to carry the sanctity of the inner man, as 3 well as the sanctity of the body, with its feelings, emotions, and all its energies. This wisdom (or understanding and knowledge) is a divine gift. The Holy Spirit, with all kinds of faculties, grants some people a word of wisdom1. Through the leadership of the Spirit, man comes to the knowledge of all things2. “Send your light” (Psalm 43: 3). That light, sent from the God the Father to the minds of those called to salvation, is the understanding through the Spirit; that guides those who are enlightened by God3. Origen There is no knowledge without faith; and no faith without knowledge... God the Son is the true teacher. St. Clement of Alexandria4 Abigail is a Hebrew word, derived from two syllables that mean: (father or source), and (joy)... Wisdom is the source of true joy, not only for the wise man, but also for his family, and for all those around him. The wise Solomon says: “A wise son makes a glad father, and a foolish son is the grief of his mother” (Proverb 10: 1). “Wisdom is better than power, and the wise is better than the mighty” (Wisd. 6: 1) The Holy book tells us that wisdom is not only a divine gift, but is also a divine Hypostasis (Iconum), who deals with us, and we with Him, in an interactive personal relationship: a- Wisdom as a Creator: “What is more valuable than wisdom, the Creator of all?” (Wisd. 8: 5). b- Wisdom cries out and loves:“Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, beside the way, where the paths meet...I love those who love me; and those who seek me diligently will find me.... I was beside Him, as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before him” (Proverbs 8: 1, 2, 17, 30). “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table... Come eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mixed” (Proverbs 9: 1 - 5). We unite with her, and she makes of us friends to God:“I loved her, sought her since my youth, and wished to have her as my bride; I became enslaved to her beauty... and decided to have her as a spouse...” (Wisd 8: 2, 9) “In every generation, it dwells in the saintly souls, to provide lovers of God and prophets; As God does not love except him who dwells with the wisdom” (Wisd 7: 27, 28). The young men knew that Abigail was wise, contrary to her man, the foolish Nabal; that is why one of them came to tell her what had happened saying: “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. They were a wall to us, both by night and by day.... Now therefore know and consider what you 1 De Principiis 2: 7: 3. 2 De Principiis 2: 7: 4. 3 Sel Ps. 43: 3. 4 Stromata 5:1. 4 will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel, that one cannot speak to him”(1 Samuel 14 - 17) This frank and polite speech by the young man, in which he described her man as a scoundrel, revealed two sides in Abigail’s life: that everyone trusted her, and her good sense and her concern for everyone; That is why the young man did not hesitate to call her man a scoundrel; being sure that she listens well and with wisdom to every word, without haughtiness nor arrogance; something that many people lack in their dealings, not only with their subordinates, but even with their own children. That speech, also reveals the role played by David and his men in the province; as protecting 3000 sheep and 1000 goats in a vast area of the wilderness, prone to the attacks of violent enemies as the Amalekites, the Geshurites, and the Girzites (1 Samuel 27: 8), was not an easy task. David, realizing that God is his Wall and refuge, was always keen on making himself a wall to others; repaying God’s love by his own love to His creation beloved to Him; namely to mankind. As God is a Wall to us, protecting us against the strikes of the enemy, and covering our weaknesses, so, it is becoming of us to be a wall to others, to support the weak in spirit (2 Corinthians 11: 29; Romans 15: 1; 1 Thessalonians 5: 14); to cover their weaknesses with love; and not to judge them. Father Dorotheos says: [In short - as I previously said - It is fitting for everyone to help others as much as he can; as, as the more man unites with his neighbor, the more he unites with God1]. Having heard what the young man had to say, she did not tell him off, for interfering in what did not concern him; nor for calling her man a scoundrel. She did not discuss the issue; but, because there was no time but to act wisely and swiftly, she made haste and took 200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. She commanded her servants to go on before her; and she did not tell her husband Nabal of her intentions. David, in his fury was addressing his men, and vowing: “May God do so, and more also to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light” (1 Samuel 25: 22). Yet she with her wisdom, brought before her a material present of goods (Proverbs 17: 8), offered humility, dismounted from the donkey, fell on her face before David, bowed down to the ground and offered as well “a soft answer that turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15: 1) saying to him: “On me my Lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please, let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. Please, let not my Lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my Lord whom you sent. Now therefore my Lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed, and from avenging yourself with your own hand,... Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my Lord an enduring house, because my Lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days. Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my Lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living of the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my Lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that it will be no grief to you, nor offense 1 On Refusal to Judge our Neighbor. 5 of heart to my Lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my Lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my Lord, then remember your maidservant” (1 Samuel 25: 24 - 31) What a wise woman, and what a sweet speech! She revealed her inner Spirit, characterized by humility; and started to admit her trespass or sin, that she did not commit through her own will, but through being the wife of such a foolish man, who through his misbehavior had done wrong to the whole household. Politely apologized that she did not see the young men sent by David, to give them of the goods that God gave her. She was characterized as well by faith; counting Saul as rejected, calling him (a man) and not (a king); while looking at David as a ruler and a king, on his way to ascend to the throne. She was also characterized by wisdom, politely drawing David’s attention to the following: a- It was fitting for him to disregard a man like Nabal... as David was too exalted and too great to stretch his hand to someone like him. b- That God sent her to keep him from avenging himself; as he was a public man of a great soul, who worked for the whole congregation, and not for himself. c- That Saul had risen to fight him; yet God kept his life as though in a bundle of those living with the Lord God; while the life of his enemies, would be thrown out, as though from the pocket of a sling; So why should he defend himself now? d- He was entrusted to fighting the Lord’s battles; so it was not fitting for him to preoccupy himself with such worthless things. e- He would eventually reign over all the people; So let him act as a king who cared for his people, and not to offend them by avenging himself. f- When he would get that honor and reign, she asked him to remember her...As though she was telling him that the eyes of all, were on him as a king, expecting everything good from him; so he should not preoccupy himself by anything else. We can say that God allowed Abigail to intercede, in order to keep David from sinning for two reasons: a- David the pure in heart, had suffered the persecution of Saul several times; That is why, once he started to show weakness, the Lord hastened to speak to him in one way or another. Abigail did not come by chance but through a divine ordinance; The Lord looking at his heart and long-suffering, did not wish him to fall. b- Through his humility, David did not hesitate to accept the advice of others, as long as it came from a sound spiritual thought. Here, David’s wisdom mingled with that of Abigail, having accepted her advice, he praised her, and put it into effect, despite the vow he had uttered before his men. Father Joseph says: [David preferred to break his word, rather than to keep it through violence1]. 4- DAVID PRAISES ABIGAIL David felt that what Abigail did, was a divine message, full of wisdom; so he said to her” “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me... I have heeded your voice and granted your request” (1 Samuel 25: 32 - 35) I do not know: Should I praise Abigail who kept such a great man from committing a crime, or should I praise David, for receiving the advice and praising her? If he was a disciple under the pious prophet Samuel, it was claimed that she had been likewise; So both of them had the Spirit of wisdom, mingled with humility. I wish we follow David’s example, who did not lean upon his personal advice but accepted that of others. 1 Cassian: Conf. 17: 25. 6 It is impossible for someone who holds fast to his personal judgment and thought, to deny himself. Whoever does not hold fast to his own will, would always get his wish. Apparently, he may look as though he does not have his way; but - whatever the situation is - he gets enough fulfillment, and would discover before himself, that what happened, has actually realized his will. I know that no monk shall fall, except he who holds fast to his own counsel. There is nothing more regretful, nor more dangerous, than, for man to be his own counselor. Abbot Dorotheos1 David’s men got ready to take revenge against Nabal; but Abigail changed that situation by her supplications. From this we realize that we should not only listen to good supplications in the right time, but also to be pleased with them. That is what David did, having been pleased with her, who interceded with him, he also blessed her, because she kept him from avenging himself. St. Ambrose2 As much as Abigail was wise in her talk, David had the listening ear; and as said by the wise Solomon: “Like an eardrop of Gold and an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reprove to an obedient ear” (Proverb 25: 12); And as said by David himself: “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be kindness. And let him reprove me; it shall be as excellent oil” (psalm 141: 5). 5- DAVID MARRIES ABIGAIL The story ended by the death of Nabal after about 10 days by a heart stroke probably caused by depression after which David took Abigail as his wife. Abigail returned home to find her man Nabal holding a feast like that of a king (1 Samuel 25: 36); spending profusely on it, while refusing to give little to those who needed it the most. He assumed that such feast would make him happy; yet getting very drunk, he became more foolish, and less happy. Hearing about the death of Nabal, David realized that the hand of God was working to strike him who did him wrong without any cause. He sent to ask Abigail to be his wife to which She, promptly, humbly, and without hesitation gave her consent. She arose, bowed her face to the ground, and said: “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my Lord” (1 Samuel 25: 41) She accepted him as her husband during his time of affliction, to accompany him during that of glory. David’s marriage to Abigail came after the death of the prophet Samuel, as well as her foolish husband Nabal.... This marriage represents the union of the Lord Christ with His Church - the true Abigail; In Him it became the source of inner joy.. Abigail could not get united to her heavenly Groom, before the death of the prophet Samuel; namely after the consummation of the law and the prophecies of the Old Testament, in order to live, not under the law, but in the freedom of grace. It got united with its new Groom after the death of its foolish old man; namely - the pagan worship; as the Church came from among the pagan nations. Let us die to the literacy of the law and let us reject Nabal from our life in order to accept the Son of David as a true Groom, to flood us with His grace, to get 1 Maxims on the Spiritual Life, 1, 12, 19. 2 Duties of the Clergy 1: 21: 94. 7 filled with His Holy Spirit, abundantly and incessantly; saying: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7: 37, 38).
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