David and his men had been out in the wilderness for a long time. While they were there, they met a group of men who worked for Nabal. David and his men shared their resources with Nabal's men and protected them day and night. These men were not warriors. They were shepherds guarding Nabal's sheep. David wanted to keep them safe.
After Nabal's men went back home, David and his soldiers stayed in the wilderness. Eventually food became a little scarce.
David called some of his men together. " I want you to go to Nabal's house. Tell him that we protected his men when they were out here with the sheep. Let him know that we shared our food and drink with them. We made sure they had everything they needed. Then ask him to send us some food."
The men traveled to Nabal's house. When they arrived, Nabal and his men were sheering the sheep. "Greetings Nabal." One of the men said. "David sends you greetings. We took care of your workers when they were watching your sheep. We gave them food and water. Then we protected them so they could sleep at night. They didn't have to be afraid of robbers or wild animals.. But Nabal, now we've run out of food. David wants to know if you can send some food out to our soldiers."
David called some of his men together. " I want you to go to Nabal's house. Tell him that we protected his men when they were out here with the sheep. Let him know that we shared our food and drink with them. We made sure they had everything they needed. Then ask him to send us some food."
The men traveled to Nabal's house. When they arrived, Nabal and his men were sheering the sheep. "Greetings Nabal." One of the men said. "David sends you greetings. We took care of your workers when they were watching your sheep. We gave them food and water. Then we protected them so they could sleep at night. They didn't have to be afraid of robbers or wild animals.. But Nabal, now we've run out of food. David wants to know if you can send some food out to our soldiers."
Nabal said, "Who is David that I should worry about whether he has food or not?"
"Nabal, we took care of your men when they were watching your sheep. We are only asking you to return the favor."
"That was nice of you to take care of my men. but you shouldn't have done it expecting me to pay you back. I didn't promise you anything."
"Your men were hungry and we fed them. Now our men are hungry."
"Not my problem." Nabal said walking away from the men.
"Nabal, we took care of your men when they were watching your sheep. We are only asking you to return the favor."
"That was nice of you to take care of my men. but you shouldn't have done it expecting me to pay you back. I didn't promise you anything."
"Your men were hungry and we fed them. Now our men are hungry."
"Not my problem." Nabal said walking away from the men.
Now one of the men who had watched the sheep heard this and ran to Nabal's wife.
"Miss Abigail. When we were in the wilderness with the sheep, David and his men fed us and gave us drinks. They stayed up at night guarding us so we could go to sleep. Now they have come to Nabal and asked for food and he turned them down.
"Oh, Miss Abigail. David was good to us, but he is tough one. If he gets mad because Nabal wouldn't send food, he is liable to attack and maybe kill Nabal."
Luckily, Abigail saw the problem. Nabal had always opened his mouth when he should have kept it closed. She had told him time and time again to keep his smart mouth shut. She had also talked to him about sharing what God had given them, but Nabal was a stubborn and selfish man. He only thought about himself.
Abigail quickly set her women into action. Without telling Nabal, they gathered 200 loaves of bread, 2 bottles of wine, 5 ready to cook sheep, 5 measurements of corn, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs. She had them loaded on the donkeys and then sent them to David as gifts.
"Miss Abigail. When we were in the wilderness with the sheep, David and his men fed us and gave us drinks. They stayed up at night guarding us so we could go to sleep. Now they have come to Nabal and asked for food and he turned them down.
"Oh, Miss Abigail. David was good to us, but he is tough one. If he gets mad because Nabal wouldn't send food, he is liable to attack and maybe kill Nabal."
Luckily, Abigail saw the problem. Nabal had always opened his mouth when he should have kept it closed. She had told him time and time again to keep his smart mouth shut. She had also talked to him about sharing what God had given them, but Nabal was a stubborn and selfish man. He only thought about himself.
Abigail quickly set her women into action. Without telling Nabal, they gathered 200 loaves of bread, 2 bottles of wine, 5 ready to cook sheep, 5 measurements of corn, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs. She had them loaded on the donkeys and then sent them to David as gifts.
Abigail gave her handmaidens a little bit of a lead before starting out herself. When she got to David, she humbly bowed before him. "Oh, David. Please accept these gifts from myself and Nabal. I apologize for his behavior. He has always been that way. He is a fool. If your men would have come to me, I would've granted your request. Thank you for taking care of our men. If you need anything else, please send your men to me.
David was pleased with Abigail's gifts and forgave Nabal for Abigail's sake.
David was pleased with Abigail's gifts and forgave Nabal for Abigail's sake.
RSS Feed