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Nabal was a rich Calebite man in Maon who had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats, who had business in Carmel[1]. He is known for being the original husband of the beautiful, intelligent and God-honoring Abigail. He was shrewd and mean in his dealings[2] and one time disrespected David when he needed food[3]. He is mentioned on once in the Bible, in the 25th chapter of the Old Testament's First Samuel

Biography[]

When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep, he sent ten young men to entreat the favor of his welfare. Nabal sent David word that he was not going to give his food to people he doesn't know, saying, "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master." [4] When David heard this message, he told his men to strap on their swords and prepare for battle. Abigail, who heard from Nabal's servants how brutishly he responded to David's servants, secretly went ahead with donkeys laden with food and entreated David's favor to reconsider shedding the blood on Nabal's household. David accepted her plea, her wisdom, and her offering, and told her to go back to her house in peace, blessing her in the name of the Lord. She went back home to find Nabal feasting like a king and told him nothing about what she had done until the morning when the wine went out of him. When Abigail told him, his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. After about ten days, the Lord struck him, and he died.

Verses[]

  1. 1 Sam 25:2 (Link)
  2. 1 Sam 25:3 (Link)
  3. 1 Sam 25:10-11 (Link)
  4. 1 Sam 25:10 (Link)
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