The story of Nabal in the Bible illustrates the tragic consequences awaiting a man who spurns or looks down on his wife's influence and direction. Like many rich men who have money to spare, and looking for a trophy wife, Nabal was able to arrange a marriage that made the beautiful Abigail to be his wife. We are told that the woman not only had a 'beautiful countenance', she also had 'good understanding.' (see 1 Samuel 25:3) In the Bible, it was rare for a woman to be described in such manner. Superficial beauty is common, but good understanding is rare. Interestingly, while Abigail, the wife, had sterling qualities, the husband was ' churlish and evil in his doings.'
Why would this rare kind of woman agree to marry a man that was rude, abusive, condescending, violent in language and attitude, uncommunicative and secretive ?
Did she marry this man of great wealth to escape poverty, and climb the social ladder ? Did she enter the marriage with a misplaced hope that she had the ability to change Nabal from his evil ways ?
Well, it took David's request from Nabal to reveal the questions that we cannot find easy answers to.
David had peacefully requested that Nabal should not forget to share a little part of his prosperity with David's men. That they never hurt or allowed anything to be stolen from Nabal's shepherds in Carmel. Continuing on a note of peace, David said: ' Wherefore let my young messengers find favour in your eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray you, whatsoever come to your hand unto your son David.'
Hearing David's message, Nabal was scornful and outraged: ' Who is David ?' He questioned. 'And who is the son of Jesse ? There be many servants nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men whom I know not where they are ? '
The story would be understood better in the context of the fact that Nabal was King Saul's loyalist. That made David as an outcast to be treated with malice, disdain and harshness, as far as Nabal was concerned.
As an outlaw, hiding from Saul's wrath, David was worthless and irrelevant, undeserving of any favour from Nabal.
To Nabal, David's survival in any form or appearance was a huge aggravation.
Better for David to perish as a starving fugitive than for any line of sustainability to be extended from Nabal.
What would Nabal gain to share a little part of his wealth to sustain David and his guerilla army ?
So he did not hesitate to turn down the fugitive warlord's request.
Incensed that his request was denied, David immediately raised a full-scale war against Nabal. Meanwhile one of Nabal's servants, sensing that evil was determined against his master, having dismissed David's request with ignominy, asked Abigail to intervene. He confirmed they enjoyed David's full protection while keeping the sheep.
So Abigail quickly arranged abundant provisions to be transferred for the benefits of David and his men. Her unhesitant intervention was kept away from her husband. She refused to tell him.
On the way, she met David, still raging with indignation, fully prepared to waste Nabal.
Bowing herself to the ground, and falling at David's feet, she pleaded that regard should not be given to her husband, as his name Nabal spelled 'folly.' That it was her fault not to have seen David's messengers when they came calling.
That her intervention should be seen as a divine opportunity to stop David from shedding blood, and avenging himself with his own hand. Having the prophetic insight to recognize that David was divinely appointed to rule over Israel, she appealed that David should remember her at his enthronement, and not allow Nabal's denial to grieve or offend David.
Reciprocating her gracious speech, David received of her hand the provisions she brought.
Getting home, Abigail found Nabal holding a kingly feast in his house. He was merry and drunken. So the woman kept her silence, and told her husband nothing.
By morning, he was sober. Then Abigail told him all that transpired. According to the Bible, ' his heart died with him, and he became a stone.' Ten days later, the LORD smote Nabal that he died.
To be continued
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