abigail Summary and Overview

father (i.e., "leader") of the dance, or "of joy." (1.) The sister of David, and wife of Jether an Ishmaelite (1 Chr. 2:16,17). She was the mother of Amasa (2 Sam. 17:25). (2.) The wife of the churlish Nabal, who dwelt in the district of Carmel (1 Sam. 25:3). She showed great prudence and delicate management at a critical period of her husband's life. She was "a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance." After Nabal's death she became the wife of David (1 Sam. 25:14-42), and was his companion in all his future fortunes (1 Sam. 27:3; 30:5; 2 Sam. 2:2). By her David had a son called Chileab (2 Sam. 3:3), elsewhere called Daniel (1 Chr. 3:1).

(father, i.e. source, of joy). 1. The beautiful wife of Nabal, a wealthy owner of goats and sheep in Carmel. (B.C. 1060.) When David's messengers were slighted by Nabal, Abigail supplies David and his followers with provisions, and succeeded in appeasing his anger. The days after this Nabal died, and David sent for Abigail and made her his wife. #1Sa 25:14| etc. By her he had a son, called Chileab in #2Sa 3:3| but Daniel in #1Ch 3:1| 2. A sister of David, married to Jether the Ishmaelite, and mother, by him , of Amasa. #1Ch 2:17| In #2Sa 17:25| for Israelite read Ishmaelite. (B.C. 1068.)

AB'IGAIL (father, i. e. source, of joy). (1). The wise and beautiful wife of the churlish and wicked Nabal, a wealthy man of Carmel. 1 Sam 25:3. When her husband had exposed himself to the anger of David by his rude and contemptuous treatment of his messengers, Abigail hastened to meet him while he was on his way with four hundred men to revenge the insult. She managed the affair with so much prudence as to pacify David and obtain his blessing. About ten days after her return the Lord visited Nabal with sickness, and he died, and Abigail became David's wife. (2). One of David's sisters, married to Jether, and mother of Amasa. 2 Sam 17:25;1 Chr 2:17.

("father of joy".) 1. The churl Nabal's beautiful wife, of Carmel. Taking on herself the blame of Nabal's insult to David's messengers, she promptly, and with a discreet woman's tact, averted David's just anger by liberally supplying the wants of his forces, and by deprecating in person at his feet the shedding of blood in vengeance. He hearkened to her prayer and accepted her person; and rejoiced at being "kept back" by her counsel from taking into his own hand God's prerogative of vengeance (1 Samuel 25:26; 1 Samuel 25:34; 1 Samuel 25:39; compare Romans 12:19). God did "plead His cause" against Nabal: compare the undesigned coincidence of phrase between the history and the independent psalm, a proof of genuineness: Psalm 35:1; Psalm 7:16; Psalm 17:4; Psalm 14:1 with 1 Samuel 25:25; 1 Samuel 25:36-38 with Luke 12:19-21; 1 Samuel 25:29; the image of a "sling, slinging out the souls of the enemy" with 1 Samuel 17:49. At Nabal's death by God's visitation David made her his wife, and by her David had a son, Chileab (2 Samuel 3:3), or Daniel (1 Chronicles 3:1), i.e. God is my judge, a name which apparently alludes to the divine judgment on Nabal. 2. A sister of David, daughter of Nahash; wife of Jether or Ithra, an Ishmaelite, rather seduced by him (See ITHRA); mother of Amasa (1 Chronicles 2:15-17). David was probably her and Zeruiah's half brother, born of the same mother, but he having Jesse, she and Zeruiah Nahash, for their father. This accounts for the phrase "Abigail, daughter of Nahash, and sister of Zeruiah," not of David. Zeruiah and she were only his step-sisters.