28: Wicked Nabal, Impulsive David, and Wise Abigail ( 1Samuel 25:1 - 25)

Chapter 25 describes David's response to being insulted by Nabal, a wealthy but foolish and wicked rancher. This happened after Samuel’s death.

👉 Read 1Samuel 25:1 - 25

Q1. How does the Bible describe about Nabal and Abigail? (vv 2-3)

Nabal: very wealthy. But he was harsh and his deeds were evil.

Abigail: wise and beautiful

Later verses illustrate what these assessments imply. Nabal was not listening (v17), was foolish (v25), and enjoyed feasts (v36). Abigail was wise as she reacted quickly (v18), was willing to take the blame for her husband (v24), and made good judgments (v33).

Q2. (4 – 11) Compare David’s attitude and Nabal’s response. Identify expressions where David humbly and politely requests food. (v 6 – 8) How did Nabal describe David? (v 10) 

These expressions show David’s polite request: ‘my brother’ (v6), ‘your servants and you son David’, and ‘whatever you can spare’ (v8).

However, Nabal called David a ‘runaway slave.’ 

Nabal refused their request by saying, “I don’t know David.” That means, ‘I don’t approve David.’ In fact, he knew David and probably about his anointing. But he did not anticipate that David would survive and ascend to the throne, so he aligned himself with Saul, possibly out of fear. He is described as stubborn (v17) and greedy (v36).

Q3. Upon hearing Nabal's response, David, driven by his temper, quickly mobilized his army (v12-13) to obliterate all men of Nabal's house (v22). What justification did David have for his action (v21)?

Nabal repaid his good with evil.

David felt that Nabal deserved a penalty for his insult; however, the planned obliteration of all the males in Nabal’s household was excessive. Of course, it must be displeasing to God for He reserves the right to avenge.

Q4. In contrast to the hesitant and impulsive reactions of the two men, Abigail was a woman of wisdom. As soon as she heard the report, she (           ) prepared foods and sent it ahead of her. When she met David, she bowed to the ground before his (          ) and said, “My lord, (                      )! Please ignore this wicked and (          ) man Nabal.”

In contrast to the unwise and impulsive reactions of the two men, Abigail was a woman of wisdom.  As soon as she heard the report, she ( quickly ) prepared foods and sent them ahead of her. When she met David, she bowed to the ground before his ( feet  ) and said, “My lord, ( I accept all the guilt )! Please ignore this wicked and ( foolish  ) man Nabal.”

Samuel's death raises concerns about the absence of spiritual leadership among God's people. In this context, Abigail's wise intervention illustrates how, even in the dynastic era, the Lord will guide His people and their kings.

"Listening to the Lord’s prophets" remains a crucial principle for their prosperity, reflecting an unchangeable truth since creation. Nabal embodies the antithesis of this principle by not listening to godly wisdom, unlike David, who adjusts his course after hearing God's message through Abigail. Consequently, a happy ending waits for David (v43) but a tragic ending for Nabal (38).

This tendency to ignore divine guidance links Nabal and Saul. While others praise David, Saul alone fills with hatred and persistently tries to kill him. Thus, Nabal’s death, in some sense, parallels Saul's, and both illustrate the theme of divine judgment. After Nabal's death, David likely assured that the Lord would handle Saul in His own way, removing obstacles to David’s rise to power and thus fulfilling the divine plan revealed at the anointing.

David’s actions could be justified but not commended. After Samuel’s death, David needed guidance on God’s will, and Abigail provided that. This situation emphasizes the importance of listening to God’s voice, which can come through unexpected channels. Even David needed to be attentive to God’s message delivered by a farmer’s wife.