Biblical Abigail in the Spotlight

A Strong But Submitted Peacemaker
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Pop Quiz! King David’s wives were …

A. Michal and Bathsheeba
B. Michal, Bathsheeba, Ahinoam, Maacah
C. Michal, Bathsheeba, Ahinoam, Maacah, Haggith, Abital
D. Michal, Bathsheeba, Ahinoam, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Elgah, Abigail

Unbelievable but true! If you checked D you’re right. Despite God’s warning to the Kings of Israel, "You shall not multiply your wives," David married eight times. Abigail was among this lively group of ladies. Of all the famous women in the OT, she was certainly the wisest.

Abigail Was No Wimp

No doubt Abigail was familiar with an ancient version of the phrase “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” In 1 Sam 25, 1 Chron 3:1 we read the story of a beautiful and capable woman who averted danger for her entire household. She is first married to a man named Nabal, a wealthy owner of large herds and much land. Nabal angers David at sheep-shearing time by refusing to offer his hospitality. Abigail acts swiftly as mediator to appease the shepherd-warrior by taking gifts of prepared foods to David and his 600 men. After Nabal’s sudden death, David married Abigail and she gave birth to a son named Daniel.

Let’s pick up the story at the point right after Abigail's meeting with the infamous David. Imagine what Abigail might have expressed in an e-mail to her older married sister who was living some distance away.

Hi Anna,

Do you remember hearing my stories about David, the son of Jesse and his men who roamed our lands? I’m so grateful they’ve been protecting Nabal’s flocks and herdsmen from dangerous prowling thieves. Three thousand sheep and one thousand goats is a lot to manage.

I’m sorry you missed the party we threw over the weekend to celebrate sheep shearing time. Our house up here on the plateau was filled with guests from miles around. I wore my blue linen dress with the sash, and my shell pink headdress. I felt so pretty!

In retrospect, it was probably a good thing that you and the kids couldn’t make it. Nabal drank too much wine
(as usual) and ended up getting drunk. When one of David’s men arrived to ask for some food to feed his volunteer bodyguard, Nabal rudely refused. I immediately sensed our lives—and those of our entire household—were in grave danger.

...we baked two hundred loaves of bread, dressed five sheep for roasting, filled two wineskins, packed one hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes
of figs.

Determined to appease the self-appointed protector of our financial estate, I found a few recipes online and calculated how much food my maids would need to prepare as a peace offering. Spending two straight days in the kitchen, we baked two hundred loaves of bread, dressed five sheep for roasting, filled two wineskins, packed one hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs. My servants loaded everything on donkeys and prepared for the journey. I whispered a prayer for safety, and mounting an donkey myself, I rode out to meet the famous man David.

Under cover of the mountain, our group of traveling diplomats approached David and his men. I overheard David say that by morning all of the males in our entire household would be destroyed. Not exactly a warm welcome …

Nevertheless, I knew that I should apologize for my husband’s bad behavior as quickly as possible. I slid off my donkey and ran toward him. Bowing in humility, I admitted that Nabal was a base fellow and a fool. I begged David to accept the special foods I had brought him and to forgive me on behalf my husband.

I implored David to resist the temptation to carry out
his murderous plan, as this would not be pleasing to
our God.

Certain by the grace of God, that David will be prince over Israel some day, I told him that God would exalt him in due time. I assured him that although he has often run like a fugitive from jealous King Saul, he is the object of God’s love and care. I implored David to resist the temptation to carry out his murderous plan, as this would not be pleasing to our God.

Anna, fortunately, I understand men and their rash behavior. When they’re disrespected or unappreciated, sometimes they’re tempted to do bad things. Trusting that David needed “a woman’s touch” to appease and calm him—especially while living in such a harsh wilderness environment—I wasted no time in going to him. Dressed in my loveliest traveling outfit, I concluded my remarks to David by subtly suggesting that I would be honored to become his wife should I find myself a widow some day.

After completing my peacemaking mission, I quickly remounted my donkey. I motioned to my servant in the lead, and we set off on the long journey home. We retraced our steps across Nabal’s large territory, traversing limestone hills, bare valleys, and dry watercourses. I suspect David must have been completely transfixed by the sight of our caravan disappearing over the far hillside.

I’m humbled to have personally met the future King of Israel. Should Nabal’s entire estate one day be turned over to David, it would certainly have to come as a gift from the Lord’s hand.

Love,

Abigail

The inspiration for this piece comes from her chapter “Abigal” in Edith Deen’s excellent book, All the Women of the Bible. "A comprehensive history with more than 300 biographies—a feminine portrait gallery of saints, sorceresses, faithful mothers and wives, queens, and business women, the famous and infamous women of the Bible."

Sisters, I love this book! Edith Deen's writing is careful and engaging—it's the next best thing to Scripture. Love, e-Mom More information...


Do you notice any similarlies between the strength and submission of Abigail and those same qualities in Jesus Christ?




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Photos: roboppy, SamiTaipale, Herberger (Flickr)

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