David and Nabal (and Abigail)

1 Samuel 25

            This story begins with the death of Samuel. Samuel had been the transitional figure between the chaos of the judges and the era of the kings. Although Samuel seems to have entered a semi-retirement (he hasn’t been mentioned since chapter 19), he still seems to have been the power behind the throne, and Israel assembled and mourned for him. For David, the death of Samuel means he is more and more on his own. The focus of the story is now completely on David. (If you’re a fan of King Arthur, it’s a similar transition as when Arthur lost the services and advice of Merlin…)

            In his first post-Samuel David gets mixed reviews. On the one hand, he has been building good will, especially in his native Judah, by protecting flocks and properties. For this service, David asks Nabal, a wealthy landowner, for support, which Nabal refuses, thinking it’s just some sort of shake down scheme and portraying David as some thug. David flies off the handle and threatens to destroy Nabal. That was not his finest moment! His pride certainly got the better of him in that moment!

            Enter Abigail, described as beautiful and intelligent. She sees things clearer than both men. She labels her husband a fool. (The word nabal literally means “foolish” in Hebrew; I hope that wasn’t’ the name his parents gave him!) She doesn’t call David a fool, but she kind of implies it in her speech in verses 28-31, a kind of this-is-beneath-you thing. And disaster is averted.

            David had been acting kingly, protecting his people, and he returns to a kingly demeanor by not using his power to avenge a petty cause. Nabal, on the other hand, has no claim to royalty but according to verse 36, he was partying as if he was a king. Here was a man who did not learn humility. Being a king doesn’t mean self-indulgence; it means protecting one’s people, sometimes even from oneself. That’s a lesson that rings forward to Jesus, when He is described as a king in the Gospels: what kind of king? A king like David, a king who is humble, a king who works for His people.

            One last thing: after Nabal dies, David marries Abigail. This is a smart move politically, because it gives him a connection to one of the oldest and wealthiest families in Judah. But it also gives David a sort of replacement for Samuel, a wise woman who sees things clearly.