Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Biblical Person · Old · United Monarchy · -1100-01-0 – -1000-01-0

Abigail

Abigail

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Abigail, initially the wife of Nabal, became one of King David's wives after wisely intervening to prevent David from taking vengeance on her household.

AI-assisted summary — may contain inaccuracies.

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Biographical facts

Born
-1100-01-0
Died
-1000-01-0
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Where Abigail appears

17 verses across 3 books.

1Sam11×2Sam3×1Chr3×

Verses mentioning Abigail

  • 1Chr 2:16 — Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
  • 1Chr 2:17 — And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.
  • 1Chr 3:1 — Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:
  • 1Sam 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
  • 1Sam 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.
  • 1Sam 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 cake
  • 1Sam 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,
  • 1Sam 25:32 — And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
  • 1Sam 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
  • 1Sam 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 return
  • 1Sam 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.
  • 1Sam 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.
  • 1Sam 27:3 — And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s wife.
  • 1Sam 30:5 — And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
  • 2Sam 2:2 — So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal’s wife the Carmelite.
  • 2Sam 3:3 — And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
  • 2Sam 17:25 — And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man’s son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab’s mot
Voices from the tradition

The Church Fathers on Abigail

Patristic commentary on the Scriptures that name Abigail.

David had two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite, and Abigail, whom he took later. The first was somewhat severe, the other full of mercy and graciousness, a kindly and generous soul who saw the Father with face unveiled, gazing on his glory. She received that heavenly dew of the grace of the Father, as her name is interpreted. What is the…

But before this David had already held back his armed hand in his indignation. How much greater it is not to revile again, than not to avenge oneself! The warriors, too, [who] prepared to take vengeance against Nabal, Abigail restrained by her prayers. From this we perceive that we ought not only to yield to timely entreaties but also…

But to a mind that is drunk with fury every right thing that is said appears wrong. Whence to Nabal when he was drunk Abigail laudably kept silence about his fault, but, when he had digested his wine, as laudably told him of it. For he could for this reason perceive the evil he had done, that he did not hear of it when drunk.

But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, etc. When the chiefs of the Jews scorned the word of faith, the unity of Christ's disciples announced to the synagogue subject to them, saying: Behold, Jesus Christ sent apostles, namely messengers of truth, instructed in the divine Scriptures, to command eternal blessing to our…

Abigail then hurried and took two hundred loaves, etc. Motivated by the preaching of the apostles, the Synagogue hastened to be reconciled to Christ, whom she recognized had been offended by her leaders, and brought her listeners, who had already been instructed in the letter of the law; and she placed them upon the humble and simple…

Historic voices touch this life

22 passages from 5 historic works cite verses that mention Abigail.