10 And Nabal answered David's servants with great contempt, and said, in a violent passion, Who [is] David? and who [is] the son of Jesse? as if he was so mean a person that he was not known, though he had done well in Israel, had slain Goliath, was the king's son in law, and well known to the Philistines: there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. He here taxed him with infidelity to Saul, and pleaded that what he had was his own, and provided for other sort of men. 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 ?] Intimating that they were a crew of idle, vagabond fellows, and that it did not become an honest man to 12 countenance and support them. So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those say. 13 ings. And David, being resolved in the height of his resentment to be avenged on him, 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.

14

But one of the young men among the shearers who was wiser and better than his master, went and told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to 15 salute our master; and he railed on them. 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 16 were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and 17 day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. 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. He concluded that David would resent it, but durst not remonstrate with Nabal, as he would only be more insolent and abusive, and was such an obstinate, surly man, that there was no making any 18 impression on him. Then Abigail made haste, like a prudent woman, she did not neglect the wise advice of a servant, and she took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine,t and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched [corn,] and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and 19 laid [them] on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; the sight of the present may in some measure appease David; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal, lest he should persist in his insolence, and prevent her 20 going. 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

He bears his testimony to the usefulness as well as innocence of David's men; who kept them from wild beasts, from the Philistines, who robbed the threshing floors, and from the Arabians and others, who lived on plunder. This proves that David's men were not a ban. ditti, but honest, peaceable men, and under good discipline.

These were large leathern bottles, such as are still used in the east.

came down against her; and she met them in a valley between 21 the two hills. Now, in order to show the wonderful effect that Abigail's address had, the historian observes, that David had said to his men, 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. 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.

J.

W

:

REFLECTIONS.

HAT a melancholy thing is it for a comely, prudent, vir◄ tuous woman, to be yoked to a surly, drunken fool! Surely it was for the sake of wealth, that this lovely woman was married to a man who had not one good quality to recommend him. The present day affords instances of many women, who, through the folly of their parents, or their own pride, are thrown away upon fools or sots, or tied to golden brutes. What a piteous case must this poor woman be in, to have an husband whose folly she could not but see and despise; for which she was obliged to make excuses; and excuses which were the more grievous, as they reflected upon her own good sense and prudence. The fair sex may see, in this chapter, what sort of an husband a sot and a fool is likely to make; and what trials those are likely to meet with, who marry for wealth only trials, for which all their good sense and religion will be little enough, Let parents learn to make a wise choice for their children, and not look upon money or estate as the chief thing to be regarded. There cannot be a more pitiable spectacle than such an unequal marriage as this chapter represents. Though perhaps to some women of beautiful countenances and good understandings, such husbands may be allotted by Providence, as necessary to allay that vanity, which so many accomplishments are apt to inspire them with.

2. The surly, the rude, and uncharitable, may here see their own picture; and a very lively one indeed it is. No sooner was Nabal asked a favour, in a very civil and respectful manner, than he fell into a passion, and abused the petitioner. There are too many instances of this conduct in every age of the world. There are those who abuse the poor, that they may be excused from relieving them who give surly answers, when asked for contributions for public and useful services; and plead their own necessity and inability, with as much earnestness and as little justice as Nabal did. Though he had nothing to spare, Abigail could find a handsome present; and he could find enough to make himself and his servants drunk with. It is thus men often spend that on their own

That is, not a man. This was undoubtedly a rash oath, but their extremity should be considered, that Nabal used David very unjustly, as well as insolently, and that he and his men had a right to some reward for such service.

dress, their tables, or their furniture, with which they ought to do good; and plead inability, when it is really owing to nothing but luxury and extravagance.

CHAP. XXV. 23, to the end.

In which we have Abigail's interposition with David, and the good effects of it; David's gratitude to God for his providential interference; the sudden death of Nabal; and David's marriage to Abigail and Ahinoam.

23

A

:

ND when Abigail saw David, saw by his haste, and his looks that vengeance was determined, and all her address would be little enough to divert it, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the 24 ground, And fell at his feet, did him reverence as a great man ; and, in a speech full of the most natural and moving eloquence, 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; like a kind wife, she desires to suffer for her husband; and having bespoke a patient 25 hearing, she adds, 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.* 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, be so inconsiderable, as not to be capable of doing 37 him any hurt. 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, permit thy servants to accept it, as it 28 is too mean for thee. I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid, in taking all the blame upon myself, and endeavouring to appease thy wrath: for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house; praying that he would be kind to her, as God would certainly be to him; because my lord fighteth the battles of the LORD, and evil hath not been found in thee [all] thy days; thou hast hitherto been famous for heroic deeds, and always acted nobly 29 and generously. Yet a man, even Saul, is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in

• Abigail here represents her husband as a man not worthy of David's anger; telling him that in all this Nabal had but acted like himself; that he might as well be angry with a cur for snarling, or an ass for braying, as with Nabal for ingratitude, sordidness, and railing. A prudent woman would not have said so much of her husband if she could have helped it; but it was so notorious a thing, that she could not make a better excuse; and it was intended to prevent the ruin of the family.

This was very artful and ingenious, to presume so much upon his clemency and good ness, as to hope she had already diverted him from his purpose.

1

the bundle of life with the LORD thy God, shall be safe in his keeping; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, [as out] of the middle of a sling, they shall be destroyed as worth30 less things. 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; 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, thou will then thank me for my advice; or rather, let me then entreat 32 thy friendship, whenever I may need it. And David was immediately softened, and said to Abigail, Blessed [be] the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me : 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. He first adored the providence of God, which sent her so seasonably to divert his anger, and prevent the execution of his purpose; then commended 34 her and her prudent counsel, and prayed God to bless her. 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, for I was deter35 mined to make an example of that brutish wretch. 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; her presents and discourse were extremely acceptable; and he dismissed her with great complacency, thinking that his rash oath did not lay him under any obligation to do wrong.

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 37 told him nothing less or more until the morning light. 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, he was quite confounded, 38 and fainted away. And it came to pass about ten days [after,] that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

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

She brought the strongest argument at last, that when he came to the throne, (of which the speaks with certainty) he would not be disturbed with the remembrance of having shed innocent blood: he would not have this to be a blemish to his glory. A forgiving temper is the way to have a clear and quiet conscience.

+ Perhaps he was carried to bed dead drunk. It was a sign he was a fool, if he could not use his plenty without abusing it; or be pleasant among his friends, without making a beast of himself

We have many instances of persons dying suddenly when they were told the danger they had escaped; but he languished some time.

LORD hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head.* And David, having had such a proof of Abigail's wisdom and piety, and being charmed with her person and address, after a decent time, paid his addresses to her, and sent and communed 40 with Abigail, to take her to him to wife. 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. 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; she received the message with great courteousness aud humility, and expressed her readiness 42 to perform the lowest office even for his servants. And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of her's that went after her as her attendants; and she went after 43 the messengers of David, and became his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel; and they were also both of them his wives.t

44

1

But as to his first wife, Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which [was] of Gallim; and as she lived in adultery, David had a right to marry again. Saul did this to affront and grieve him, and to cut off all his pretences to the crown on that account.

REFLECTIONS.

E may hence infer, what a great blessing a wife possessed of prudence and good understanding is to a fam ily. A virtuous woman, says Solomon, is a crown to her husband. Abigail rescued her family from ruin, by her prudence and good sense. Her husband's foibles set her virtues in a more beautiful light. Let those who consult their own safety, honour and happiness, and the regularity and comfort of their families, endeavour to choose such wives; esteem good sense, good temper, and piety, the first things to be sought for in the choice. The heart of a husband may safely trust in such a wife, and he will have no fear of spoil. 2. We have reason to bless God for every instance in which we are kept from sin. It is a signal mercy, and should be thankfully owned, as David gave God the honour of preserving him. When we have been in danger of falling into sin, and doing that which would have occasioned pain and grief in the recollection, and yet have been prevented, let us bless God. Nothing affords greater joy to a good man than this, or is juster ground of gratitude to God. Whoever is the instrument of our deliverance from such dangers, let God have the praise, who inclined them to reprove us, and enabled us to take it, not only patiently but thankfully, like David;

David did not rejoice in his death itself, but took notice of it as an instance of divine justice, which at once vindicated him, and was an encouragement to him and others to trust in God, without avenging themselves.

†This was undoubtedly wrong; though, as our Lord intimates, through the hardness of their hearts, and the darkness of that dispensation, it was overlooked at that time.