Lives of Scripture

Abigail was married to Nabal, a wealthy but harsh and foolish man, and Scripture describes her by contrast as "intelligent and beautiful" (1 Samuel 25:3). When Nabal contemptuously refused David's reasonable request for provisions, one of Nabal's servants came to Abigail, knowing David was preparing an armed attack on the household (25:14-17). Abigail acted immediately and without consulting her husband: she gathered bread, wine, meat, and other provisions, rode out to intercept David, and bowed before him with a carefully reasoned appeal -- taking responsibility for what she called her own "guilt," urging David not to stain his future kingship with needless bloodshed, and trusting that the LORD Himself would deal with his enemies (25:18-31). David immediately recognized both her wisdom and God's providence in sending her: "blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me... from bloodshed" (25:32-35). When Abigail told Nabal what she had done the next day, he suffered what appears to be a stroke and died about ten days later; David then sent for her and she became his wife (25:36-42). Abigail stands out in Scripture as a model of wisdom exercised boldly under pressure -- discerning, courageous, and instrumental in restraining a future king from an act of vengeance he would have regretted.