Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Samuel died, and all Israel gathered together to mourn him. They buried him in Ramah, in his own house. Afterward, David got up and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

There was a wealthy man named Nabal living in Maon. He had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats, and at that time, he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. His wife Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman from the house of Caleb, but Nabal himself was harsh and wicked.

David heard about Nabal's shearing, so he sent ten young men to greet him in his name. "Peace be with you," they said, "and peace be with your household and all that belongs to you." They asked Nabal to show them kindness because David had taken care of their shepherds while they were at Carmel.

When the young men arrived, Nabal spoke harshly to them, asking who David was and why he should help him. He refused to give them food or drink, saying that he wouldn't take his bread, water, and meat meant for his shearers and give it to strangers like David.

David's young men returned and told him what had happened. David gathered four hundred of his men, including himself, and prepared to attack Nabal. Meanwhile, one of the young men informed Abigail about David's plans.

Abigail quickly loaded two hundred loaves, wine, five sheep, parched grain, raisins, and cakes into donkeys, intending to meet David with these gifts before he attacked her husband. She rode ahead, not telling Nabal about what she was doing.

When Abigail met David and his men, she fell at their feet, begging for mercy and offering the gifts. She explained that her husband was a foolish man who didn't deserve kindness from David. David accepted the gift and let Abigail go in peace to her house.

Ten days later, God struck Nabal, and he died. When David heard about it, he thanked God for avenging his honor through Nabal's death. David then sent servants to ask Abigail to become his wife.

Abigail was willing to serve David as a servant, but David accepted her as an equal. Meanwhile, Saul had given Michal, David's first wife, to Palti the son of Laish. David also took Ahinoam from Jezreel as another wife.