1 Samuel 25:32-44 ▼

32 Then David (beloved) said to Abigail (my father is joy), “Blessed be the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), who sent you to meet me this day!

33 Blessed is your discernment, and blessed are you, because today you kept me from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand.

34 Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal (fool) would have been left alive by morning light.”

35 Then David (beloved) accepted from her hand what she had brought him, and he said to her, “Go home in peace. See, I have heeded your voice and granted your request.”

36 When Abigail (my father is joy) returned to Nabal (fool), there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

37 In the morning when Nabal (fool) was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him, and he became like a stone.

38 About ten days later, the LORD {YHWH} struck Nabal (fool) dead.

39 On hearing that Nabal (fool) was dead, David (beloved) said, “Blessed be the LORD {YHWH}, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail (my father is joy), asking her to become his wife.

40 When his (beloved) servants came to Abigail (my father is joy) at Carmel (garden-land), they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.”

41 She arose, bowed facedown, and said, “Here is your servant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

42 So Abigail (my father is joy) hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s (beloved) messengers and became his wife.

43 David (beloved) had also married Ahinoam (my brother is delight) of Jezreel (God sows). So she and Abigail were both his wives.

44 But Saul (desired) had given his daughter Michal (who is like God), David’s (beloved) wife, to Palti (Paltiel) son of Laish (lion), who was from Gallim (springs).