A man in Maon had a business in Carmel; he was a very rich man with three thousand sheep and one thousand goats and was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The man’s name was Nabal, and his wife’s name, Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful, but the man, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings. ~1 Samuel 25:2–3
Today’s reading tells the story of David’s men, calling on Nabal, the wealthy and churlish landowner who was shearing his sheep. David’s men reminded Nabal that, because of David’s protection of his land and belongings, he had been safe and prosperous. Then they asked Nabal to make a small contribution for his ongoing safety. Being his predictable, delightful self, Nabal ordered David’s men off his land.
Enter Abigail, Nabal’s wife. When she heard what had happened, she immediately realized the danger their family was facing. David wouldn’t take this insult, and she knew it. So, in her attempt to protect her merciless husband, she prepared a huge peace offering (see v. 18) to present to David, hoping to cool his fury.
Seeing Abigail’s gifts and hearing her plea for mercy, David granted Abigail and her undeserving husband his pardon. The next morning, when Abigail told the ungrateful Nabal—who was nursing a hangover from a raucous party the night before—what she had done on his behalf, he dropped dead.
The first time I remember reading about this man named Nabal and his angelic wife, the story made me mad. As far as we know, there are no words in the original Hebrew that can be properly translated into English as “terminal jerk.” But if there were, these ancient words would perfectly describe this guy.
When you read 1 Samuel 25, you’ll meet Nabal. The account here tells us quite a bit. As you read a few of the details, instead of doing what I’m sometimes guilty of, pointing my judgmental finger at Nabal and making a tsk-tsk sound, I’m rereading it now and wondering if there’s anything in me that’s anything like this. Maybe just a tiny sliver of Nabal in me? Or you?
- Businessman.GrantedIdon’townthreethousandsheep(Idon’tevenownone) or one thousand goats (again, not one), but I have had the privilege of providing for my family through a business I started and owned. I’m proud of what I have built and don’t blame Nabal for feeling proprietary about this.
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Naturally selfish. My first instinct isn’t generosity. It’s: “This is mine, I earned it, and you can’t have it.” When I find myself doing something generous, it’s almost always in reaction to hearing myself encouraging myself to hang onto my stuff.
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Conveniently forgetful. When David’s men told Nabal they had come “on Da- vid’s behalf,” Nabal cut them down with a rhetorical question. “Who is David?” (vv. 9–10). Too often I forget kindnesses or acts of service given to me.
- Nabal outkicked his coverage in a wife. I get that.
Do you know someone like Nabal? Do you work with someone like Nabal? Are you related to someone like Nabal? More importantly, do you act like Nabal yourself sometimes?
There but for the grace of God go we, right?