1 SAMUEL LESSON 28


     We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 25:1 "And Samuel died; and
all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and
buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to
the wilderness of Paran."

     Samuel had a school for the prophets. He really was one of the
more prominent judges, as well. The law was not always well
understood, and Samuel tried to make the people understand and keep
the law.  His ministry was during a time when the people were very
casually keeping the law. It was, in fact, a time when the law was
being changed to fit the needs of the people, which was not
permissible with God. Samuel was a very powerful, spiritual man with
the people. It would have been correct for them to greatly mourn his
death. This is, possibly, speaking of him being buried on his property
somewhere. He, probably, wanted to be buried at Ramah. This is
speaking of David and his men moving to the wilderness. They were a
fairly large group, and would have to move pretty often to have food
to eat.  Paran was in the Arabia. It was a vast wilderness.

     I Samuel 25:2 "And [there was] a man in Maon, whose possessions
[were] in Carmel; and the man [was] very great, and he had three
thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in
Carmel."

     Maon was an elevated town of the tribe of Judah. It was 7 miles
south of Hebron. This man of Maon was a very wealthy man. Notice, that
he was working in Carmel. Mount Carmel is the same place where Elijah
challenged the prophets of Baal.

     I Samuel 25:3 "Now the name of the man [was] Nabal; and the name
of his wife Abigail: and [she was] a woman of good understanding, and
of a beautiful countenance: but the man [was] churlish and evil in his
doings; and he [was] of the house of Caleb."

     The name "Nabal" means foolish. Nabal was descended from Caleb.
Caleb and Joshua were the only two who had brought back the good
report, when they first searched out the promised land. "Churlish"
means severe, cruel, grievous, and hard. It, also, means obstinate,
rough, and stubborn. This Nabal was, probably, all of these things.
His wife appeared to be the opposite of him. "Abigail" seemed to be a
source for joy. She was a beautiful woman, as well as being a joyful
person.

     I Samuel 25:4  "And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did
shear his sheep."

     It appears, that David was trying to find Nabal that he might
speak to him.

     I Samuel 25:5 "And David sent out ten young men, and David said
unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet
him in my name:"  I Samuel 25:6 "And thus shall ye say to him that
liveth [in prosperity], Peace [be] both to thee, and peace [be] to
thine house, and peace [be] unto all that thou hast."

     David wanted to make peace with Nabal. David had, probably, over
600 men at this time. He needs food for his men, but he can furnish
protection for Nabal's animals. David sends ten men to represent him
to Nabal. The number "ten" has to do with world government. David is
trying to deal with a very worldly man. David does not want any
trouble with Nabal. Since they will be neighbors, it would be to both
of their advantages to get along.

     I Samuel 25:7 "And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now
thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there
ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel."

     It seems, from this, that David had been protecting Nabal's
shepherds. David sends word that they had not harmed the shepherds,
even though they had great opportunity to do so. David did not allow
his men to take any of the sheep from Nabal.

     I Samuel 25:8 "Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee.
Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in
a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto
thy servants, and to thy son David."

     This is saying, that Nabal can ask his own young men, and they
will tell him that David and his men have done them no harm. In fact,
they had protected them from other raiders. David needed food for his
men. He was not, however, asking for charity. He is asking Nabal to
pay him for the services they have rendered, so that he can feed his
men. David speaks of himself as son of Nabal. This is just a son in
age. He was not David's father.

     I Samuel 25:9 "And when David's young men came, they spake to
Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased."

     It is apparent that the ten young men of David went to Nabal with
the message from David. They brought the exact message. They have
explained the circumstances of David and his men being fugitives.
They, also, have told that David is the son of Jesse.

     I Samuel 25:10  "And Nabal answered David's servants, and said,
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."

     It is obvious that the personality of Nabal was one that insulted
people. He has no respect for David. He would never say these things
to David's face. He is speaking these insulting things to David's
servants. He is saying, that Saul was David's master, and that David
was no more than a servant.

     I Samuel 25:11 "Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my
flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give [it] unto men, whom
I know not whence they [be]?"

     These foods and drink are the things necessary to exist in this
hostile environment. Notice, the word "my". Nabal is a selfish man,
who does not care for the needs of others. He refuses food for David
and his men.

     I Samuel 25:12 "So David's young men turned their way, and went
again, and came and told him all those sayings. I Samuel 25:13 "And
David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they
girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and
there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred
abode by the stuff."

     David had offered them a peaceful solution, but Nabal was too
evil to accept it. Now, they will have to face David and four hundred
of his men in battle. The reply of Nabal had greatly angered David,
and he will go against this evil man. There were marauders in the
area, so David left two hundred of his men to protect his camp.

     I Samuel 25:14  "But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's
wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to
salute our master; and he railed on them."

     We remember, from earlier in the lesson, that Abigail was the
opposite of her husband. The young men had to be in attendance, when
Nabal said these terrible things to David's servants. The young men
knew the things Nabal had said were wrong, because they use the word
{railed}.

     I Samuel 25:15 "But the men [were] very good unto us, and we were
not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant
with them, when we were in the fields:" I Samuel 25:16 "They were a
wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them
keeping the sheep."

     They knew the men of David had protected them over and over. The
men of David needed food, but they would not take it from the servants
of Nabal. They, undoubtedly, have tried to tell this to Nabal, and he
would not listen. He was a very stubborn, selfish man who would not
listen to his own men. These servants knew that Abigail was a fair
woman and they have brought this message to her.

     I Samuel 25:17 "Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt
do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his
household: for he [is such] a son of Belial, that [a man] cannot speak
to him."

     These young men feared for the family of Nabal. They were aware
that David's army was powerful enough to destroy them, and take what
they needed. They, also, knew that David's servants have taken the
insulting message back to David. They fear that David and his men will
come, and destroy them all. They have come to Abigail to see, if she
can do something that will stop this. "Belial" means worthlessness.
It, also, is a description of a naughty, ungodly man.

     I Samuel 25:18  "Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred
loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and
five measures of parched [corn], and an hundred clusters of raisins,
and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid [them] on asses."  I Samuel
25:19 "And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come
after you. But she told not her husband Nabal." I Samuel 25:20 "And it
was [so, as] she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of
the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and
she met them."

     We see the wisdom of Abigail far surpasses the wisdom of her
husband Nabal. She does not tell her husband, because his greed will
not allow him to do this. From the list of things she has taken to
give to David, above, we can see that she has enough that all of the
men can enjoy some of this. She sent the gifts in front of her, so
that David would be more receptive to her. She is just in time to stop
the attack from David. In fact, she meets David and his men on the way
to destroy Nabal and his servants. It appears, she is in a covering
underneath the road that David is coming on.

     I Samuel 25:21 "Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept
all that this [fellow] hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was
missed of all that [pertained] unto him: and he hath requited me evil
for good." I Samuel 25:22 "So and more also do God unto the enemies of
David, if I leave of all that [pertain] to him by the morning light
any that pisseth against the wall."

     At this point, David has planned to kill all the males of the
family of Nabal and all of his servants. He regrets that he had spared
their flocks, because of the greed of Nabal. He had tried to be
friends with Nabal, and Nabal had refused his friendship. David had
done nothing but good to Nabal and his men. Nabal had done evil to
David. David has every intention of killing them, and taking their
flocks.

     I Samuel 25:23 "And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and
lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed
herself to the ground,"

     Abigail bowed herself to David recognizing him as king. She knew
in her heart that someday this honorable man would be king.

     I Samuel 25:24 "And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord,
[upon] me [let this] iniquity [be]: and let thine handmaid, I pray
thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid."

     Not only was Abigail an honorable woman, who was wise enough to
realize what was going on, but was brave, as well. She offered to take
the blame herself. She pleads with David to hear her out, before he
continues on his mission of destruction.

     I Samuel 25:25 "Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of
Belial, [even] Nabal: for as his name [is], so [is] he; Nabal [is] his
name, and folly [is] with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young
men of my lord, whom thou didst send."

     You remember from the beginning of this lesson, the evil things
that his name meant. Abigail says, that his name describes the very
way he is. She does not apologize for Nabal. She is aware that he is
evil, and she admits it to David. She is saying, that had David sent
the young men to speak to her, the answer would have been different.
She has proof of that, by all the gifts she has for David here.

     I Samuel 25:26 "Now therefore, my lord, [as] the LORD liveth, and
[as] thy soul liveth, seeing the LORD hath withholden thee from coming
to [shed] blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now
let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal."

     We see the wisdom of Abigail in this. She immediately relates her
coming to meet David with God. She says, she is there because God sent
her to him. God has stopped David from shedding the blood of Nabal and
his men. Abigail speaks doom upon those like Nabal, who are opposed to
David. She has advised David not to avenge himself, but to let God do
it for him.

     I Samuel 25:27 "And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath
brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that
follow my lord."

     We see, in this, that Abigail is being very humble. She says the
gifts she has brought to them are not good enough to give David,
because he is a king. She explains that these gifts {of very little
value, in her sight} might be good enough for David's men who follow
him. The gifts, then, are for them. Notice she calls herself, David's
handmaid. This is another way of calling herself the servant of David.

     I Samuel 25:28 "I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine
handmaid: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house;
because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not
been found in thee [all] thy days."

     It seems that, Abigail is already aware of the fact that David is
the LORD's. This was either told her by the LORD, or she has heard
this from the people who know David well. She is sure that David is
destined to be king. She knows that David has lived uprightly before
his LORD. Earlier she had asked David to let the blame fall upon her.
Now, she is asking for forgiveness from David for those things.

     I Samuel 25:29 "Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek
thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life
with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he
sling out, [as out] of the middle of a sling."

     She is speaking prophetically of the things that lie in store for
those who hate David. This is, probably, speaking specifically of
Saul, but is, also, speaking of anyone else who might come against
him.  Because he has given himself entirely to the LORD, he possess
life eternal. "Bound in the bundle of life" means he is surrounded by
life. He is in the protective care of the LORD. The LORD will sling
his enemies away from him.

     I Samuel 25:30 "And it shall come to pass, when the LORD shall
have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken
concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;"
I Samuel 25:31 "That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of
heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or
that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the LORD shall have dealt
well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid."

     Notice, she does not say if, she says when. She is assured that
David will be king. She is reminding him of the great responsibility
of keeping himself completely free of selfish acts. He must not take
vengeance for himself in this matter, because he might look back on it
with regret. Someone might even accuse him of killing Nabal, because
of his anger. She reminds him, that God will punish his enemies. She
is so sure that he will be king, that she asks for him to remember
her, then.

     I Samuel 25:32  "And David said to Abigail, Blessed [be] the LORD
God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:" I Samuel 25:33
"And blessed [be] thy advice, and blessed [be] thou, which hast kept
me this day from coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging myself with
mine own hand." I Samuel 25:34 "For in very deed, [as] the LORD God of
Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou
hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto
Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall."

     David, not only allows her to speak, but receives what she has to
say as a message of warning from the LORD. He knows that what she says
is right. He blesses the LORD that sent her, and blesses her for being
brave enough to come with the advice. He admits he was about to kill
all of the males with Nabal. He appreciates God for keeping him from
shedding blood.

     I Samuel 25:35 "So David received of her hand [that] which she
had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house;
see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person."

     David forgives her for anything she might have done. He accepts
the gifts she has sent to him, and sends her home in peace. David
greatly admires Abigail.

     I Samuel 25:36  "And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held
a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart
[was] merry within him, for he [was] very drunken: wherefore she told
him nothing, less or more, until the morning light."

     She shows great wisdom in not telling him, while he was drunk.
People who are drunk do not have the capacity to make wise decisions.
She lets him enjoy his feast, and puts off telling him to a more
favorable time.

     I Samuel 25:37 "But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine
was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that
his heart died within him, and he became [as] a stone." I Samuel 25:38
"And it came to pass about ten days [after], that the LORD smote
Nabal, that he died."

     This is simply saying, that the shock from what she told him,
caused him to have a heart attack, and ten days later he died. This is
the way that the LORD had of removing this evil Nabal. God had taken
vengeance for David.

     I Samuel 25:39  "And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he
said, Blessed [be] the LORD, that hath pleaded the cause of my
reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil:
for the LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.
And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife."

     David greatly admired Abigail for her courage and her wisdom. She
would make him a good wife. David lost no time in making it known he
wanted her to be his wife. David's praise went to the LORD for taking
vengeance for him.

     I Samuel 25:40 "And when the servants of David were come to
Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto
thee, to take thee to him to wife." I Samuel 25:41 "And she arose, and
bowed herself on [her] face to the earth, and said, Behold, [let]
thine handmaid [be] a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my
lord." I Samuel 25:42 "And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an
ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after
the messengers of David, and became his wife."

     The legal time for a widow to mourn was 7 days. It seems, that
Abigail was as pleased as David was. She humbles herself by saying she
is willing to be a servant even to David's servant. This marriage is
by mutual agreement. She immediately accepts the proposal of marriage,
and goes to David, riding an ass. She takes five of her servant girls
with her. David seemed secure against Saul at this time.

     I Samuel 25:43 "David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were
also both of them his wives."

     It was not unusual in that day for a man to have more than one
wife. "Ahinoam" means brother of grace.

     I Samuel 25:44  "But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's
wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which [was] of Gallim."

     David had been gone from the house of Saul for a very long time.
Perhaps, Saul thought he would never come back to her, so he gave her
to Phalti of Gallim. She is eventually restored to David.


                        1 Samuel 28 Questions


1.  In verse 1, we read that __________ died.
2.  Where was he buried?
3.  Samuel had a school for ___________.
4.  Samuel was a very powerful, __________ man with the people.
5.  The rich man, in verse 2, had ______ ___________ sheep.
6.  Where was he shearing sheep?
7.  What was the name of the rich man?
8.  What does his name mean?
9.  What was his wife's name?
10. What type of person was she?
11. What does "churlish" mean?
12. How many men did David send to speak to Nabal?
13. What did David ask of Nabal?
14. Why should he do this for David?
15. Who knew what David and his men had done, and could speak for
    them?
16. How did Nabal answer David's young men?
17. What foods did Nabal refuse to send David?
18. When David heard Nabal's answer, what did he tell his men to do?
19. Who did the young men of Nabal go to, and tell what happened?
20. What did the young men tell her?
21. What did they call Nabal in verse 17?
22. What did Abigail do, immediately?
23. Why does she not tell her husband?
24. What is David's intentions toward Nabal?
25. Not only was Abigail an honorable woman, but ________, as well.
26. How did she greet David?
27. What did she say about her husband's name?
28. Who did Abigail say had stopped David from shedding blood?
29. Why did she say the food she brought was for David's men?
30. What is she prophetically speaking of in verse 29?
31. What does Abigail suggest that David do, instead of going to
    battle?
32. Does David forgive her?
33. Why did Abigail not tell Nabal, what she had done that night?
34. When she told him later, what happened?
35. When did Nabal die?
36. What did David do, after Nabal died?
37. The legal time for a widow to mourn was _____ ______.
38. How does she humble herself, when she accepts David's marriage
    proposal?
39. Who else did David marry?
40. What had happened to Michal?