and his heart failed him and he became like a stone,and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. In the city of Jerusalem, Davids eighth wife, Bathsheba, gave him four sons after the death of her first son. His heart then strangely turns to stone and he dies ten days later, struck by the Lord (God) (v. 38). One of the servants told Abigail, Nabals wife, David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. David He tells the messengers to remind Nabal that David's band had protected Nabal's shepherds in the wilderness. At that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. I think this is one of those stories. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter for a wife. After David moved his Levenson, John D., and Baruch Halpern. Abigail quickly intervenes, sending a feast ahead and greeting David on the way. David brought his number of spouses to seven when he later married Bathsheba in Jerusalem, so David had well under the maximum of 18 wives. Based on her prescience, the Talmud identifies Abigail as one of the seven female prophets in the Hebrew Bible (b. Megillah 15a). In the Abigail story, David, the potential king, is seen as increasingly strong and virtuous, whereas in the Bathsheba story, the reigning monarch shows his flaws ever more overtly and begins to lose control of his family.. What does it mean, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave his life for it"? 5 responses I have heard your words and granted(BB) your request.. She bears David a son, who never becomes a contender for the throne, and though a prophet and wise woman, she plays no further role in court history. Further, it accounts for Abigails motivation: why she intervenes secretly to provide a feast for David and his men without consulting her husband. Since scripture describes both David and Abigail as good-looking people, it's entirely possible that some attraction pulled Abigail toward David. 3. 58, corroborated by the report of Nabals own servant in vv. So she told him nothing at all until daybreak. While the Bible names seven women as David's spouses, it's possible that he had more, as well as multiple concubines who may have borne him unaccounted-for children. Ten days later God caused him to die (v. 37-38). Jewish Women says that equating Eglah with Michal was the rabbis' way of bringing David's marriages into line with the requirements of Deuteronomy 17:17, a law of Torah which mandates that the king "shall not have many wives." 31 December 1999. The first time they are mentioned is in 2 Samuel 3:2-5 and 1 Chronicles 3:1-3 repeats the same information. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Then David moved down into the (I Samuel 25:1-44 from the NIV, the New International Version of the Bible.). Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet. New York and London: T&T Clark, 2010. Samuel the prophet had just died, and David and his men had traveled down into the Desert of Maon. David then praises her good sense and expresses gratitude that she restrained him from bloodshed, uttering an oath to counter the prior violent one (v. 34). T/F, 5. All rights reserved worldwide. David married the widowed Bathsheba, but their first child died as punishment from God. Abigail in the Bible 34Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal(BA) would have been left alive by daybreak., 35Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, Go home in peace. The Ipuwer PapyrusWere The 10 Biblical Plagues Real? These wives are Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba, and their stories greatly influenced the history of Israel. However, Jewish studies scholar Sandra S. Williams has proposed another possible motivation for Abigail's actions. About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal and he died" (1 Samuel 25: 37-38). May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 1 Chronicles 3:9 (NASB). Why did David seek to take back Michal as wife after she was wed to Paltiel? The Number, Location, and Mothers of David's Children. When Abigail and David encounter one another in 1 Samuel 25, David is on the run from King Saul, who has rightly discerned that David is a threat to his throne. Arthur Niswar. Share Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 6Say to him: Long life to you! 2 Samuel 12:24 is the only verse that refers to Bathsheba as Davids wife. The child eventually died (2 Samuel 12:15-23). 2There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. "Abigail: Bible." David then ordered that Uriah be moved to the front-line of a battle, where he was killed. . When Davids men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in Davids name. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women. Were they the best fighters? Yet, the penalty for his sin was that the sword will never depart from your house and the child would die (2 Samuel 12:10-15). Christian missionaries have taught people in Papua, New Guinea who had many gods before their conversion to recite the Hebrew Shema announcing only ONE GOD. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 29Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life,(AS) the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl(AT) away as from the pocket of a sling. Only one other character named Ahinoam appears in the Hebrew Bible (Sauls wife; see 1 Sam 14:50). Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. 1 Chronicles 3:1-4 states that King Davids first seven wives gave him six children, while they lived in Hebron. Then David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, that he might become the kings son-in-law. Consequently, she was able to save her husbands life (v. 18-35). However, a servant brought word of David's request and Nabal's rejection to Nabal's wife, Abigail. This reveals that sometime after Uriah died, David and Bathsheba were married. 3 The mans name was Nabal,[ b] and his wifes name was Abigail. Mean and inhospitable, he meets his fate, measure-for-measure, in the petrification of his hard heart. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. Abigail was the mother of Chileab (2 Samuel 3:3). Abigail alights from her donkey and prostrates herself before David. (BD) So she told(BE) him nothing at all until daybreak. Abigail. In Women in Scripture: A Dictionary of Named and Unnamed Women in the Hebrew Bible, the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books and the New Testament, edited by Carol Meyers, Toni Craven, and Ross S. Kraemer, 4344. Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. Abigail, Wife of David, and Other Ancient Oriental Women. Marys Perpetual Virginity & Jesus Brothers, Why Pollen on the Shroud of Turin Proves it is Real, Christian Inscriptions in Roman Catacombs, Eruption Of Mt. Start your free trial today! WebSince Ahinoams name usually precedes that of Abigail, it has been suggested that David married Ahinoam before he married Abigail (contrary to 1 Sam 25:4243; see The Many Wives of David in the Bible. David, hearing that she has been widowed, sends for her. Limited polygamy (one man married to more than one woman) was permitted during this era of Israel's history. It was there the conflict began. Help us elevate the voices of Jewish women. His folly there does become the cause of grief and pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause (v. 31). Ask your own servants and they will tell you. (H), 4While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant., David said to Abigail, Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. Updates? Abigail, the wife of Nabal of Carmel, is the only woman in the Hebrew Bible who is described as both intelligent and beautiful. That's because in ancient Israelite warfare, girding involved wrapping a sword belt around the waist 3 times to make it secure in battle. "Abigail and David - Abigail Was King David's Wisest Wife." Report. Astle, Cynthia. She married John Punderson. Nothing more is known of About four hundred men went(P) up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. So he sent ten young men and said to them, Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 1. 37Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. They did not mistreat(S) us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. We are told in 1 Samuel 18:20 that Michal loved David. While running a protection racket in the area of Carmel, David asks for provisions for himself and his men but Nabal refuses, so the young warrior prepares for slaughter. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. She was considered by our sages to be among the 4 most beautiful women of The implication of scripture is that David recognized what an asset Abigail would be to him as a wife since she was clearly someone who managed well, protected her husband's interests, and could recognize dangers in time to avert disaster. Report. WebKing Davids third wife was Ahinoam of Jezreel. 3 And David dwelleth with Achish in Gath, he and his men, each one with his household, [even] David and his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail wife of Nabal the Carmelitess. This may have been divine punishment for despising her husband, since David was the servant of the Lord. It is important to notice that in this passage the numbers refer to the sons born to David. Is a woman who is married to a Muslim man as his second wife, permitted biblically to stay married to him after she comes to accept Christ? ~John Wesley's Notes on the Bible. 7. Abigail and Bathsheba: Two Wives | Bible.org She got down off her high horse, threw herself to the ground, fell at his feet and pleaded with David. WebDavid was 30 years old when he became king, having just moved from Ziklag (2 Sam 1:1), and settled in Hebron (2 Sam 2:4). Features thousands of biographic and thematic essays on Jewish women around the world. Share When King David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent a proposal to Abigail to become his wife and she agreed. David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. Upon hearing what she has done, Nabal dies. David had just said, Its been uselessall my watching over this fellows property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. Who was Abigail in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org For example, King Saul, David's predecessor, offered both of his daughters at separate times as wives for David. This characterization explains why Nabal responds so rudely to Davids request for sustenance, likening him to a runaway servant (vv. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Ahinoam and Abigail are with David during his stay with King Achish of Gath (1 Sam 27:3), are taken captive when Amalekites raid Ziklag, Davids Philistine base (1 Sam 30:5), and are among those who go with David to Hebron when he becomes king over Judah (2 Sam 2:2). When they arrived, they reported every word. WebAbigail, in the Old Testament, the wife of Nabal of southern Judah, on whose death she became one of the first wives of David (1 Samuel 25) and the mother of his son Chileab. Now Michal, Sauls daughter, loved David. Abigail means my father is rejoicing. Old Testament Part 7. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. 17 terms. When Abigail and David encounter one another in 1 Samuel 25, David is on the run from King Saul, who has rightly discerned that David is a threat to his throne. After enumerating Nabals enormous wealth in flocks (1 Sam 25:2), the narrative introduces her in contrast to him. 5So he sent ten young men and said to them, Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. There were only 8 people in Noahs Ark. Is polygamy supported by 1 Corinthians 7:2. Share Why was Abigail still called "Nabal's wife" even after she married David? She has authored a number of books on faith and religion. Her omission from the genealogy may be linked to 2 Samuel 6:23, which says, "to her dying day Michal, daughter of Saul, had no children.". (Y) 19Then she told her servants, Go on ahead;(Z) Ill follow you. But she did not tell(AA) her husband Nabal. Who Were the Nephilim Giants of the Bible. Merab's absence from the Davidic chronology in 1 Chronicles 3 could be explained by the fact that scripture doesn't record any children born to Merab and David. "The Many Wives of David in the Bible." Community answers are sorted based on votes. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Nabal says, meaning essentially "who is this upstart?" Why choose these 300 men? He was in high(BC) spirits and very drunk. Episode 91: Israel at 75: Voices of Protest. 36When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. (E) He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing(F) in Carmel. Far more polite and diplomatic than a woman of her standing needed to be with an outlaw like David, Abigail assured him that he has God's favor, which will keep him from harm and give him both the throne of Israel and a noble house of many descendants. There were only 8 people in Noahs Ark. WebAbigail, in the Old Testament, the wife of Nabal of southern Judah, on whose death she became one of the first wives of David (1 Samuel 25) and the mother of his son Chileab. Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with Davids messengers and became his wife. David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. But Saul had given his daughter Michal, Davids wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim. In short, Williams says that David and Abigail recognized in one another their mutual strengths and weaknesses, a realization that probably made their union, although ethically ambiguous, inevitable and successful. In several places, every time Abigail is mentioned (after she married David), it's always Minister, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Musician. (David has not yet been publicly anointed king). What does it mean "the arm of flesh" and why will it fail (2 Chronicles 32:8)? About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. Jewish Women says that in an effort to resolve the conflict, some rabbis argue that Merab didn't marry David until after her first husband died and that Michal didn't marry David until after her sister died. She quickly assembles an elaborate feast, which is loaded up on donkeys and sent in advance. Davids Family King Davids first wife was Michal. When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed low before him. Consequently, she decided to wait until the morning to tell Nabal what King David had planned to do and shared how she had saved him (v. 36-37). Meyers, Carol, ed. get to know the Bible better! (BJ) 44But Saul had given his daughter Michal, Davids wife, to Paltiel[d](BK) son of Laish, who was from Gallim.(BL). Do you have to repent from all sin to enter heaven? Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. Does Psalms 90:10 indicate that the lifespan of man should only be 70-80 years? Later, King Saul plotted to murder David. https://www.learnreligions.com/davids-many-wives-in-bible-117324 (accessed May 1, 2023). After placating David with sweet words and stores of food, Abigail returned to her home with Nabal. Have you ever wondered how many wives David had? Learn what the Bible teaches about each of his wives. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. 25Now Samuel died,(A) and all Israel assembled and mourned(B) for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Astle, Cynthia. 21David had just said, Its been uselessall my watching over this fellows property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. She is of good sense and beautiful in looks, while he is hard and evil in his deeds (v. 3). This is especially true for complex households such as the extended or multiple-family units that made up a significant number of domestic compounds in Israelite villages.". 43David had also married Ahinoam(BI) of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. How Many Women Married David in the Bible? 4When David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. (BF) 38About ten days later, the Lord struck(BG) Nabal and he died. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. December 27 2014 Nahash, a name that means serpent, is shared by possibly as many as four Ammonite individuals.However, it could also be the name of only one king. Let us know. King Davids eighth wife is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, and the widow of Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:3). David married Abigail and traveled with her (and his first wife Ahinoam) for two years. His name also appears as 0 responses Learn Religions. This source names seven wives: David was married to Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacha, Haggith, Abital, and Eglah during the 7-1/2 years he reigned in Hebron as king of Judah. Williams cites David and Abigail's common characteristics: both were intelligent, charismatic leaders with good diplomatic and communicating skills, masters of diplomacy who knew how to play situations to their advantage, yet deceptive creatures who could feign victimhood while betraying the trust of others. She has authored a number of books on faith and religion. Schearing, Linda. Yet these men were very good to us. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. We must remember that Davids first wife, Michal, did not give birth to any children. 1 Samuel 25:39-42 (NASB). When the messengers report this unhappy exchange, David orders his men to "gird on your swords" to take provisions from Nabal by force. Because of the hint to David (v. 34), the mysterious cause of Nabals death, and no record of mourning her boorish husband, some scholars and modern creative renditions have read Abigail as conniving. Ahinoam, said to come from Jezreel, is King Davids wife and the mother of his eldest son, Amnon. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember(AW) your servant.(AX), 32David said to Abigail, Praise(AY) be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. New English Translation (NET). 15Yet these men were very good to us. 4. (AM) 27And let this gift,(AN) which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you. The fact that Abigail would gather supplies in defiance of her husband's wishes and ride out to meet David herself implies that she was not a woman oppressed by her culture's patriarchy. Davids fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh wives are Maacah, Haggith, Abital and Eglah. She is listed six times by name in scripture. This man was very wealthy;[ a] he owned 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats. 8Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Fearing that David and his army would take what they wanted by force, Abigail was prompted to act. Considering her name always precedes Abigails name, this strongly suggest David married Ahinoam before he married Abigail. David Atwater was born in New Haven Colony on July 13, 1650, and died on January 10, 1735/6. Later in 1 Samuel 27:3 we read about both Abigal and Ahinoam in one verse. Share Astle, Cynthia. Some scholars say this reference implies that David was merely seeking a quid pro quo from Nabal, but others argue that David was really trying to extort the ancientIsraelite equivalent of "protection money" from Nabal. He is also identified as a Calebite, perhaps a rival clan for the Judean monarchy. What was a concubine in the Old Testament era? Abigail | biblical figure | Britannica Amid this numerical confusion, three of the many wives of David in the Bible stand out because their relationships provide significant insights into David's character. The evidence once again shows that King David did marry Abishag as the verses 1 Kings 2:10-25 revealed. Abishag was considered by ancients to be his last wife (or concubine). As such, for Adonijah to attempt to marry Abishag was seen as a treasonous act by his brother, Solomon, as such he was put to death. We first encounter Ahinoam in Scripture in 1 Samuel 25:43 immediately after David marries Abigail. We are told that she was extremely beautiful. Now these are the names of those who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet. Community answers are sorted based on votes. Of the five contexts in which Ahinoam appears, only in her marriage notice (1 Sam 25:43) does she come after Abigail. She was both wise[c] and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. So, how did King David and Abigail meet? (T) 16Night and day they were a wall(U) around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. Try Bible Gateway Plus free today. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. Vote Up Corrections? 1 Samuel 27:3 (NASB). No, Jesus was not the first son of David and Bathsheba. 18Abigail acted quickly. 1 Samuel 25:3, 37 tell us that she was actually another mans wife before she was married to King David. Who was Nahash the Ammonite Then the couple could marry. The Political Import of Davids Marriages. Journal of Biblical Literature 99 (1980): 50718. of the Most Beguiling Characters in the 3. Why did this secret disciple risk discovery after Jesus was dead (Luke 23:50-53)? Polzin, Robert. Who is this son of Jesse? And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabals widow. Share In her long, eloquent speech (vv. The man was very rich; he had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. King Davids third wife was Ahinoam of Jezreel. 1 Chronicles 14:3-5 (NASB), Resurrection Accounts Resurrection of Christ, Thus says the LORD, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me . When Nabal refuses, insulting David and his band as riffraff (vv. (G) She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealingshe was a Calebite. [a], 2A certain man in Maon,(D) who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. 5. When David is away, the Amalekites attack Ziklag and carry off the wives, Davids people, and his possessions, but David is able to rescue them (1 Sam 30:15, 18). Christian Soldiers in the Ancient Roman Army, Destruction of Jerusalem, c. 586 BCEyewitness Account, Assassination of Julius CaesarAncient Accounts, Claudia ActeNeros Mistress, Secret Christian, Emperor Tiberius & The Resurrection Of Jesus, Plinys Letter To Trajan About Christians, Ancient TechnologyThe Antikythera Mechanism, The Lycurgus CupNanotechnology in Ancient Rome, Monte TestaccioAncient Romes Garbage Dump, Metal Detector FindRoman Coins & Lost Emperor of Britain, Stirring of Water in the Pool of Bethesda. WebAbigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five maids, went with David's messengers and became his wife. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting(AP) dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lords battles,(AQ) and no wrongdoing(AR) will be found in you as long as you live. But he forgot that our God sees everything that is done in secret (Matthew 6:4, 6) . The story of Abigail and David ranks almost as exciting and deceitful as that of David and his most famous wife, Bathsheba. "Nahash is the name of Jesse's wife, by whom he had this Abigail, as he had Zeruiah by another wife; so they were sisters by the father, but not by the mother." David was the youngest of eight brothers ( 1 Samuel 17:1214 ). How can we know God's thoughts? Saul did this because he knew Michal loved David and she betrayed him. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabals wrongdoing down on his own head., Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.