David and Abigail

As we return to our studies in 1 Samuel, we find an interesting postscript to the story of Nabal. David asked this wealthy man to give him provisions for his men, but Nabal refused rudely, angering David so greatly that he resolved to wipe out Nabal’s household. But by God’s grace, Nabal’s wife, Abigail, was able to get to David first, and her wise, gentle words cooled David’s wrath and prevented him from taking revenge on Nabal. Soon after, God Himself dealt with Nabal.

David could not help but be impressed by Abigail during this episode. The author of 1 Samuel describes her as “a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance” at the very outset of the story, and Matthew Henry writes that David was “charmed with the beauty of her person, and the uncommon prudence of her conduct and address.” With Nabal dead, David decides to ask Abigail for her hand in marriage, and sends servants to her with his proposal. Abigail, in turn, receives David’s emissaries with great humility, for she recognizes that David is the anointed successor to the throne of Israel. It is her opinion that she is unworthy of the honor of marrying David, though she would gladly serve him by washing the feet of his other servants. Nevertheless, perhaps after further entreaties from David, Abigail accepts his proposal and goes to David, along with five servants, to become his wife. She leaves her home behind to take up a fugitive existence with David, for she is full of faith that God will indeed establish him on the throne.

Unfortunately, David is not an example of monogamy. He has lost his first wife, Saul’s daughter Michal, who loved him and helped him escape from Saul—to spite David (and perhaps to punish Michal) Saul has given her to another man. But there is another woman in the picture, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and since she is elsewhere listed before Abigail (1 Sam. 27:3; 2 Sam. 2:2) when David’s wives are mentioned, he apparently is already married to her when he asks Abigail for her hand. Later, David will take even more wives (2 Sam. 3:2–5). In the practice of polygamy, David is conforming to the societal customs of his day, but not to God’s stated intention for the marriage relationship: one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24) joined together in an indivisible union (Matt. 19:4–6).