Abigail אֲבִיגַ֫יִל, אֲבִיגַ֫ל
Wife of Nabal, later married David
Who is Abigail in the Bible?
Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman first married to Nabal, a wealthy but foolish man, as described in 1 Samuel 25. When Nabal refused to provide food and supplies to David and his men in the wilderness, Abigail took initiative by gathering provisions and meeting David to apologize for her husband's behavior, persuading him to abandon his plans for revenge (1 Samuel 25:18, 25:23). After Nabal died ten days later, David married Abigail, and she became one of his wives and bore him a son named Chileab (2 Samuel 3:3). Her story illustrates the power of wisdom, courage, and diplomacy to prevent bloodshed and resolve conflict, and she is remembered as a woman whose discernment and quick action changed the course of events.
Biography
Abigail was a wise and beautiful woman who was initially married to a wealthy but foolish man named Nabal. When David and his men were in the wilderness, Nabal refused to provide them with food and supplies. Abigail, learning of this, quickly gathered provisions and went to meet David, apologizing for her husband's behavior and urging David not to seek revenge.
Impressed by her wisdom and courage, David accepted her appeal and spared Nabal's life. When Abigail told Nabal about this incident, he had a heart attack and died ten days later. After Nabal's death, David sent for Abigail and married her.
Abigail became one of David's wives and bore him a son named Chileab, who is also known as Daniel (2Sa.3.3; 1Ch.3.1). She accompanied David during his time in Ziklag, where he sought refuge from King Saul (1Sa.27.3; 30.5). Abigail's story demonstrates her wisdom, diplomacy, and faith in God.
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In Scripture
3 biblical books1 Samuel 5 verses
- 1 Samuel 25:3
"His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings."
- 1 Samuel 25:14
"Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them."
- 1 Samuel 25:18
"Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs. She loaded them on donkeys"
- 1 Samuel 25:23
"When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown, and bowed before him."
- 1 Samuel 25:32
"Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!"
2 Samuel 2 verses
- 2 Samuel 2:2
"So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel."
- 2 Samuel 3:3
"his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;"
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:1
"These were the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon by Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second was Daniel by Abigail of Carmel;"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲבִיגַ֫יִל, אֲבִיגַ֫ל |