Introduction:
Nabal is a biblical figure prominently featured in the Old Testament, specifically in 1 Samuel 25. He is known for his wealth, folly, and the pivotal role he plays in the narrative involving David and Abigail. Nabal's account serves as a moral lesson on the dangers of pride and foolishness.

Name and Meaning:
The name "Nabal" is of Hebrew origin, meaning "fool" or "senseless." This name is fitting given his actions and character as depicted in the biblical account.

Biblical Account:
Nabal is introduced in 1 Samuel 25 as a wealthy man from Maon, with property in Carmel. He is described as "very wealthy, owning a thousand goats and three thousand sheep" (1 Samuel 25:2). Despite his material wealth, Nabal is characterized as harsh and evil in his dealings.

Character and Actions:
Nabal's character is contrasted with that of his wife, Abigail, who is described as "intelligent and beautiful" (1 Samuel 25:3). Nabal's folly is most evident in his interaction with David. During the shearing of his sheep, David, who had been protecting Nabal's shepherds and flocks, sends his men to request provisions. Nabal responds with disdain and insults, questioning David's legitimacy and refusing to provide any assistance (1 Samuel 25:10-11).

David's Reaction:
David, angered by Nabal's response, prepares to take vengeance. He instructs his men to arm themselves, intending to destroy Nabal and his household (1 Samuel 25:13). This reaction highlights the severity of Nabal's offense and the potential consequences of his foolishness.

Abigail's Intervention:
Abigail, upon learning of her husband's actions and David's intentions, acts swiftly and wisely. She gathers a generous gift of food and wine and sets out to meet David, without informing Nabal (1 Samuel 25:18-19). Her intervention is marked by humility and diplomacy. She pleads with David to spare her household, acknowledging her husband's folly and appealing to David's conscience and future as king (1 Samuel 25:24-31).

Divine Judgment and Nabal's Death:
David, moved by Abigail's wisdom and recognizing the providence of God in her actions, relents and refrains from taking vengeance (1 Samuel 25:32-35). Upon Abigail's return, she finds Nabal feasting and drunk. The next morning, she informs him of the events, and his heart fails him, becoming like stone. About ten days later, the Lord strikes Nabal, and he dies (1 Samuel 25:37-38).

Aftermath and Legacy:
Following Nabal's death, David sends for Abigail, and she becomes his wife (1 Samuel 25:39-42). Nabal's account serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of pride and the importance of wisdom and humility. His life and death underscore the biblical principle that "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

Theological Implications:
Nabal's narrative illustrates the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men, demonstrating how divine justice prevails over human folly. It also highlights the role of wise and godly intervention in averting disaster, as seen in Abigail's actions. The account reinforces the biblical theme of God's protection and provision for His anointed, as David is spared from bloodguilt and preserved for his future kingship.5037. Nabal -- a man of Carmel
... 5036, 5037. Nabal. 5038 . a man of Carmel. Transliteration: Nabal Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-bawl') Short Definition: Nabal. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5037.htm - 6k

Abigail's Sensible Advice
... His name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. ... When David's young men came,
they spoke to Nabal for David as they were told, and then waited. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/abigails sensible advice.htm

How David, when He had Twice the Opportunity of Killing Saul did ...
... CHAPTER 13. How David, When He Had Twice The Opportunity Of Killing Saul Did
Not Kill Him. Also Concerning The Death Of Samuel And Nabal. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how david when.htm

The Bright Dawn of a Reign
... And He said, Unto Hebron.2. So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam
the Jezreelitess, and Abigail, Nabal's wife, the Carmelite.3. And his men ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the bright dawn of a.htm

Saul Rejected
... They had made a swift march from the south where Amalek dwelt, passing by Nabal's
Carmel, where they had put up some sort of monument of their exploit in a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/saul rejected.htm

David's Deserts
... The scene is most human and most divine: and we are not shocked to hear that after
Nabal's death the fair and rich lady joins her fortune to that of the wild ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/david/sermon iv davids deserts.htm

A Blast of the Trumpet against False Peace
... sins are carrying you down to hell. If the harp should fail you, then you
call for Nabal's feast. There shall be a sheep shearing ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a blast of the trumpet.htm

The Heinous Sin of Drunkenness
... who have committed such crimes when you have deprived yourselves of your reason
by drinking, that were you to hear of them, your heart, like Nabal's, after he ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the heinous sin of drunkenness.htm

The Exile Continued.
... It won for him a name as the defender of the nation, as Nabal's servant said of
him and his men, "They were a wall unto us, both by night and by day" (1 Samuel ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/v the exilecontinued.htm

The History of Saul
... Then there was a rich man in the mount of Carmel that hight Nabal, and on a time
he sheared and clipped his sheep, to whom David sent certain men, and bade ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of saul.htm

Nabal's (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Nabal's (7 Occurrences). ... 1 Samuel 25:36 Abigail came to
Nabal; and behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. ...
/n/nabal's.htm - 8k

Abigail (18 Occurrences)
... She was the mother of Amasa (2 Samuel 17:25). (2.) The wife of the churlish Nabal,
who dwelt in the district of Carmel (1 Samuel 25:3). She showed great ...
/a/abigail.htm - 17k

Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail;
and the woman was of good understanding, and of a beautiful face: but the ...
/a/ab'igail.htm - 10k

Nabal (18 Occurrences)
... sheep and 1,000 goats...but the man was churlish and evil in his doings." During
his wanderings David came into that district, and hearing that Nabal was about ...
/n/nabal.htm - 16k

Insulted (18 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 25:14 And one of Nabal's young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying,
Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to bless our master; and he ...
/i/insulted.htm - 11k

Dawn (70 Occurrences)
... Israel, who has kept me from doing you evil, if you had not been so quick in coming
to me and meeting me, by dawn there would not have been in Nabal's house so ...
/d/dawn.htm - 28k

Nabarias

/n/nabarias.htm - 6k

Jizreelitess (5 Occurrences)
... with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household; David with his
two wives, Ahinoam the Jizreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife ...
/j/jizreelitess.htm - 7k

Jezreelitess (5 Occurrences)
... Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his
two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife ...
/j/jezreelitess.htm - 8k

Who was Nabal in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is a Calebite? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Abigail in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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