CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

25:1
Now Samuel died, and all I!ael aem"led and mou!ned #o! $im% and &$e' "u!ied $im a& $i $ome
in Rama$( T$en )a*id mo*ed down in&o &$e )ee!& o# +aon(
Now Samuel died This is how were going to be remembered, a listing in the Social Security Index, which is
a record of those who have died.
Samuel was loved and respected. Im sure David wanted to attend Samuels funeral, but it would have been
too dangerous for him to do so. Samuel greatly supported David, but David is now mature enough to
function on his own.
Samuel was a great believer. In spite of Sauls apostasy, Israel survived.
2
,e!&ain man in +aon, w$o $ad -!o-e!&' &$e!e a& Ca!mel, wa *e!' weal&$'( He $ad a &$ouand
.oa& and &$!ee &$ouand $ee-, w$i,$ $e wa $ea!in. in Ca!mel(
w$o $ad -!o-e!&' !is property was his business. !e was a fabulously wealthy business man. !e had "###
sheep and Saul had "### chosen men. !e commuted from $aon to %armel, which is about a mile away and
"# miles south of &ibeah where Saul has his head'uarters. Saul erected a monument to himself at %armel.
This is one of many ties Saul and (abal have in common. Davids reaction to (abals insult is probably
because (abal reminds David of Saul.
It was sheep shearing time, a time of unusual hospitality.
"
Hi name wa Na"al and $i wi#e/ name wa A"i.ail( S$e wa an in&elli.en& and "eau&i#ul woman,
"u& $e! $u"and, a Cale"i&e, wa u!l' and mean in $i dealin.(
Na"al $eans fool. (abal is the alter)ego of Saul. *oth are fools. This is a name probably given to him by the
author of Samuel. (o parent is going to name their son +,ool.- !e is one of the Israels wealthiest chieftains.
Is (abal a fool. !es a fool for behaving as he did towards David and his men. (abal is siding with Saul.
!es betting on Saul being the winner.
A"i.ail $eans /$y 0Divine1 ,ather Is 2oy/ 34*%56 or +7ne 8ho &ives 2oy- 39ulpit56 or +$y Divine ,ather
:e;oices.- 38*%5
In&elli.en& 7r brilliant6 outstanding insight 38*%5
0eau&i#ul 7f face and body. She is Davids e'ual. Scripture does not say but she was young enough to be
attractive to David who was not yet "# years old.
u!l' and mean 7r harsh, severe, stupid, and stubborn, hard, unyielding, unbending, unteachable.
Sometimes you see this in couples where smart, beautiful women marry real losers. 8hy did bigail marry
(abal in the first place. !e may not have always been li<e that. !e may have changed over a period of time,
or she may not have had a choice. During 7ld Testament times marriages were more often than not arranged
by the parents. Some were agreements between neighbors or family, some were contracts involving property
=
and possessions, some were arrangement made at the birth of the child but for whatever reason most were
without the prior consent of the bride or the groom.
8hy didnt she leave him.
Cale"
= %aleb means /raging with canine madness./
2 %aleb represents the tribe of 2udah as its prince 3(u =">?6 compare =">25.
" 8hile the ma;ority of the men sent out by $oses bring bac< evil report, %aleb and 2oshua, the son of (un,
are the only ones to counsel the invasion of the promised land 3(u =">"#6 =@>? ff5.
@ ccordingly, these two alone are permitted to survive 3(u =@>"A6 "2>=25.
B %aleb is the leader of the promise made by &od through $oses, and so he receives !ebron as an
inheritance for himself and his descendants 32osh =@>?)=B5
? 7thniel, a younger brother of %aleb, is the con'ueror of Ciriath)sepher or Debir
D %alebEs daughter, chsah, is given a fruitful locality with upper and nether springs 32osh =B>=B)=F6 2dg
=>=2)=B5.
A (abal had great ancestors.
F *ut great ancestors dont guarantee success.

@
W$ile )a*id wa in &$e dee!&, $e $ea!d &$a& Na"al wa $ea!in. $ee-(
David and his men had to have supplies.
B
So $e en& &en 'oun. men and aid &o &$em, 12o u- &o Na"al a& Ca!mel and .!ee& $im in m' name(
3

Sa' &o $im: 45on. li#e &o 'ou6 2ood $eal&$ &o 'ou and 'ou! $oue$old6 And .ood $eal&$ &o all &$a& i
'ou!6
David sent =# men, so he expected a lot of supplies from (abal. David probably did this a lot, send his men
to the wealthy businessmen, as<ing for food and other provisions. :emember David is still being hunted by
Saul at this time.
2ood $eal&$ shalom.
5on. li#e &o 'ou6 2ood $eal&$ &o 'ou and 'ou! $oue$old6 And .ood $eal&$ &o all &$a& i 'ou! 7Pea,e
&o 'ou, -ea,e &o 'ou! $oue, and -ea,e &o e*e!'&$in. 'ou own(8 38*%5
D
1 4Now I $ea! &$a& i& i $ee--$ea!in. &ime( W$en 'ou! $e-$e!d we!e wi&$ u, we did no& mi&!ea&
&$em, and &$e w$ole &ime &$e' we!e a& Ca!mel no&$in. o# &$ei! wa miin.(
9
A: 'ou! own e!*an&
2
and &$e' will &ell 'ou( T$e!e#o!e "e #a*o!a"le &owa!d m' 'oun. men, in,e we ,ome a& a #e&i*e &ime(
Pleae .i*e 'ou! e!*an& and 'ou! on )a*id w$a&e*e! 'ou ,an #ind #o! &$em(/ 1
and &$e w$ole &ime &$e' we!e a& Ca!mel no&$in. o# &$ei! wa miin. ,or a long time David and his
men protected (abals shepherds and sheep. David and his men might have done this for several ranchers,
thus providing himself with a source of supplies.
we ,ome a& a #e&i*e &ime This is a good time of the years. 9rofits are good and (abal should be a happy
man.
'ou! on )a*id David earlier called himself Sauls son6 thus identifying Saul with (abal.
Pleae .i*e 'ou! e!*an& and 'ou! on )a*id w$a&e*e! 'ou ,an #ind #o! &$em David wants supplies,
mostly food. 9lenty of food would have been available at this party.
The Gaw instructs the Israelites to be generous with those who were not so fortunate 3Deut @>2A)2F6 2?>=#)
="6 (eh A>=#)=25.

F
W$en )a*id/ men a!!i*ed, &$e' .a*e Na"al &$i mea.e in )a*id/ name( T$en &$e' wai&ed(
The soldiers gave the message correctly and (abal <ept them waiting for hours.
=#
Na"al anwe!ed )a*id/ e!*an&, 1W$o i &$i )a*id; W$o i &$i on o# <ee; +an' e!*an& a!e
"!ea:in. awa' #!om &$ei! ma&e! &$ee da'(
11
W$' $ould I &a:e m' "!ead and wa&e!, and &$e mea&
I $a*e lau.$&e!ed #o! m' $ea!e!, and .i*e i& &o men ,omin. #!om w$o :now w$e!e;1
)a*id/ e!*an& They were officers in Davids band of men. It sounds li<e Davids band of ?## are
becoming more of a disciplined army.
W$o i &$i on o# <ee (abal belittles and insults David in the same way that Saul belittled and insulted
him. (abal acts as if he has never heard of David.
+an' e!*an& Git. dogs. !e is really describing himself.
+an' e!*an& a!e "!ea:in. awa' #!om &$ei! ma&e! &$ee da'
!e may be referring to David, who is fleeing from his master Saul, as a slave flees his master.
!e may be subtly suggesting to DavidEs servants that they would be well advised to brea< away from their
master.
Ironically, he spea<s better than he <nows, since /he is about to find himself in the role of a master whose
slaves brea< away, telling their mistress of her husbandEs stupidity and ethical vacuity.-
This outburst of (abal is very much li<e Sauls outburst against David in chapter 22.
(abal wont even give Davids men food and water. This is disgraceful behavior even towards strangers
much less toward men who have helped him.
"
and .i*e i& &o men ,omin. #!om w$o :now w$e!e (abal ends by saying he doesnt believe the mens
story. !e says in effect, +!ow do I <now youre telling me the truth.- 7f course all he had to do is as< his
men to verify their story.
The $T of v. == uses /I/ and /my/ a total of eight times> /I ta<e,/ /I slaughtered,/ /I give,/ /I <now/6 /my
bread,/ /my water,/ /my meat,/ /my shearers./ (abal is totally self)centered.
=2
)a*id/ men &u!ned a!ound and wen& "a,:( W$en &$e' a!!i*ed, &$e' !e-o!&ed e*e!' wo!d(
1=
)a*id
aid &o $i men 1Pu& on 'ou! wo!d61 So &$e' -u& on &$ei! wo!d, and )a*id -u& on $i( A"ou& #ou!
$und!ed men wen& u- wi&$ )a*id, w$ile &wo $und!ed &a'ed wi&$ &$e u--lie(
)a*id/ men &u!ned a!ound and wen& "a,: They made an abrupt about face. The word moved is used for a
military maneuver.
A"ou& #ou! $und!ed men wen& u- wi&$ )a*id, w$ile &wo $und!ed &a'ed wi&$ &$e u--lie The
remaining 2## men couldnt hold off Sauls army, but they could probably defeat one of Sauls scouting
parties. David too< a lot of men to go off to <ill (abal. I suspect that (abal, being so wealthy, had a private
army of his own or David feared crossing one of Sauls armies.
1=
)a*id aid &o $i men 1Pu& on 'ou! wo!d61 David has a temper. 2onathan <new this, so he had David
swear not to wipe out Sauls family and his family.
Is David right in his behavior. $aybe by the standards of the 7.T. but not by our standards as *elievers.

1>
?ne o# &$e e!*an& &old Na"al/ wi#e A"i.ail: 1)a*id en& meen.e! #!om &$e dee!& &o .i*e ou!
ma&e! $i .!ee&in., "u& $e $u!led inul& a& &$em(
15
Ye& &$ee men we!e *e!' .ood &o u( T$e' did no&
mi&!ea& u, and &$e w$ole &ime we we!e ou& in &$e #ield nea! &$em no&$in. wa miin.(
13
Ni.$& and
da' &$e' we!e a wall a!ound u all &$e &ime we we!e $e!din. ou! $ee- nea! &$em(
1@
Now &$in: i& o*e!
and ee w$a& 'ou ,an do, "e,aue dia&e! i $an.in. o*e! ou! ma&e! and $i w$ole $oue$old( He i
u,$ a wi,:ed man &$a& no one ,an &al: &o $im(1
?ne o# &$e e!*an& &old Na"al/ wi#e A"i.ail I suspect that whenever a problem arouse, bigail was called
upon.
Hou can see why (abal is such a successful business man. !e must have had some smart servants and a
smart wife. This servant is very articulate. The servant is afraid for his life, which is what (abal also should
have feared. n insult li<e that given to the soldiers would bring retaliation by any man. This servant <nows
his life is in danger.
$e $u!led inul& a& &$em 7r +flew off the handle.- This expression comes from woodchoppers who vent
their anger so much that the head of their axe would fly off.
!e ends by saying no one ,an &al: &o $im, implying maybe you can tal< some sense into him. (abal is a
person who you cant have a reasonable conversation with.
@
=A A"i.ail lo& no &ime( S$e &oo: &wo $und!ed loa*e o# "!ead, &wo :in o# wine, #i*e d!eed $ee-,
#i*e ea$ o# !oa&ed .!ain, a $und!ed ,a:e o# !aiin and &wo $und!ed ,a:e o# -!eed #i., and
loaded &$em on don:e'(
The whole chapter contrasts bigail and (abal, wisdom and folly.
These were li<ely supplies meant for the feast.
A"i.ail lo& no &ime bigail is a fast wor<er. She <nows exactly what to do. She gathers up a lot of food,
good food. The ca<es are highly priIed, especially because they <eep for a long time, which is ;ust what
David and his men need.
She li<ely used more don<eys than needed to produce the right effect.
=F
T$en $e &old $e! e!*an&, 12o on a$ead% I/ll #ollow 'ou(1 0u& $e did no& &ell $e! $u"and Na"al(
2#
A $e ,ame !idin. $e! don:e' in&o a moun&ain !a*ine, &$e!e we!e )a*id and $i men de,endin.
&owa!d $e!, and $e me& &$em(
21
)a*id $ad Au& aid, 1I&/ "een uele--all m' wa&,$in. o*e! &$i
#ellow/ -!o-e!&' in &$e dee!& o &$a& no&$in. o# $i wa miin.( He $a -aid me "a,: e*il #o! .ood(
22

+a' 2od deal wi&$ )a*id, "e i& e*e! o e*e!el', i# "' mo!nin. I lea*e ali*e one male o# all w$o "elon.
&o $im61
0u& $e did no& &ell $e! $u"and Na"al 7f course he would have stopped her. She avoided disobeying her
husband by not telling him.
He $a -aid me "a,: e*il #o! .ood *oth (abal and Saul did this to David. David too< on every mission
Saul gave him and came bac< victorious. nd what was Sauls reward to David. !e is trying to <ill him.
David in effect is saying, Ive wasted my time protecting (abals property.
+a' 2od deal wi&$ )a*id, "e i& e*e! o e*e!el', i# "' mo!nin. I lea*e ali*e one male o# all w$o "elon.
&o $im This sounds cruel of David to <ill innocent people because of (abals foolishness.
2"
W$en A"i.ail aw )a*id, $e Bui,:l' .o& o## $e! don:e' and "owed down "e#o!e )a*id wi&$ $e!
#a,e &o &$e .!ound(
2>
S$e #ell a& $i #ee& and aid: 1+' lo!d, le& &$e "lame "e on me alone( Pleae le&
'ou! e!*an& -ea: &o 'ou% $ea! w$a& 'ou! e!*an& $a &o a'(
bigail <nows she has very little time to stop David and his men. She had to tal< fast and tal< smart.
4verything she does she does Bui,:l'. Shes surrounded by @## armed and angry men. She starts off by
recogniIing Davids authority. $' lo!d
+' lo!d, le& &$e "lame "e on me alone She accepts her husbands blame. 7f course she cant do this, but it
causes David to stop and listen to her.
'ou! e!*an& 'our slave
25
+a' m' lo!d -a' no a&&en&ion &o &$a& wi,:ed man Na"al( He i Au& li:e $i name--$i name i Fool,
and #oll' .oe wi&$ $im( 0u& a #o! me, 'ou! e!*an&, I did no& ee &$e men m' ma&e! en&(
B
bigail recogniIes that shes in a bad marriage.
wi,:ed man 7r +good for nothing- 38*% J %4K56 +bad tempered boor- 3Giving *ible56 +ill)tempered-
3(ew Giving56 +worthless- 3(S5
#oll' .oe wi&$ $im bigail is a fool by association with a fool, though she is very bright. She doesnt turn
against her husband. She is not disloyal to him. !e may be a fool but she doesnt condemn him. David would
not want to marry a disloyal woman. She is also saying her husband is such a fool he doesnt <now what he
is doing. She attributes his behavior to his foolishness.
0u& a #o! me, 'ou! e!*an&, I did no& ee &$e men m' ma&e! en& She is accepting the blame. She didnt
see his men. 7f course, David cant blame her for not being there.

23
1Now in,e &$e 5?R) $a :e-& 'ou, m' ma&e!, #!om "lood$ed and #!om a*en.in. 'ou!el# wi&$
'ou! own $and, a u!el' a &$e 5?R) li*e and a 'ou li*e, ma' 'ou! enemie and all w$o in&end &o
$a!m m' ma&e! "e li:e Na"al(
Now in,e &$e 5?R) $a :e-& 'ou good choice of words to remind David that the Gord is in charge.
Since vengeance belongs to &od alone 3Deut "2>"B5, David must not avenge himself 3vv. 2?, "=, ""5. To do
so would be to usurp &odEs prerogatives, /act the fool and violate the wisdom/ of 9roverbs 2#>22> /Do not
say, /IEll pay you bac< for this wrongLEM 8ait for the G7:D, and he will deliver you. /8ith the same double
asseveration used earlier by David 32#>"5, bigail expresses her desire that DavidEs /enemies/ 3Saul and
(abal5 and all who /intend to harm/ him might /be li<e (abal/ Na fool.
2@
And le& &$i .i#&, w$i,$ 'ou! e!*an& $a "!ou.$& &o m' ma&e!, "e .i*en &o &$e men w$o #ollow 'ou(
29
Pleae #o!.i*e 'ou! e!*an&/ o##ene, #o! &$e 5?R) will ,e!&ainl' ma:e a la&in. d'na&' #o! m'
ma&e!, "e,aue $e #i.$& &$e 5?R)/ "a&&le( 5e& no w!on.doin. "e #ound in 'ou a lon. a 'ou li*e(
And le& &$i .i#& 7r this +blessing.- She says her gift is not good enough for David, so is intended for his
men.
bigail assumes responsibility for (abals failure.
#o! &$e 5?R) will ,e!&ainl' ma:e a la&in. d'na&' #o! m' ma&e! She is telling David that he has a lot
to loo< forward to, that he is blessed by &od, so why bother <illing (abal. !e is insignificant compared to
what he will have, a <ingdom.
m' ma&e! David
5e& no w!on.doin. "e #ound in 'ou a lon. a 'ou li*e The evil for David would be to go bac< into his
bac<sliding ways. The evil would be to <ill (abal. She is saying that <illing (abal would be sinful.

2C
E*en &$ou.$ omeone i -u!uin. 'ou &o &a:e 'ou! li#e, &$e li#e o# m' ma&e! will "e "ound e,u!el'
in &$e "undle o# &$e li*in. "' &$e 5?R) 'ou! 2od( 0u& &$e li*e o# 'ou! enemie $e will $u!l awa' a
#!om &$e -o,:e& o# a lin.(
?
5i#e soul
will "e "ound e,u!el' in &$e "undle o# &$e li*in. "' &$e 5?R) 'ou! 2od
&od too< us into his custody.
8e are in !is personal care
8e are of great value to the Gord.
&od carries us in life and in death.
8e are with other believers.
0u& &$e li*e o# 'ou! enemie $e will $u!l awa' a #!om &$e -o,:e& o# a lin. Saul is re;ected by &od.
This could be the title of a message, the two bundles. 7ne is a pouch for valuables 3David5 and the other is
the pouch for a slingshot to hurl something far away 3Saul5. Shes recalling that David <illed &oliath with a
slingshot.
=D
W$en &$e 5?R) $a done #o! m' ma&e! e*e!' .ood &$in. $e -!omied ,on,e!nin. $im and $a
a--oin&ed $im leade! o*e! I!ael,
=1
m' ma&e! will no& $a*e on $i ,on,ien,e &$e &a..e!in. "u!den o#
needle "lood$ed o! o# $a*in. a*en.ed $imel#( And w$en &$e 5?R) $a "!ou.$& m' ma&e!
u,,e, !emem"e! 'ou! e!*an&(1
&$e &a..e!in. "u!den The stumbling bloc<. The murder of (abal would become a stumbling bloc< to
David. Trivial things can be stumbling bloc<s. :evenge is a stumbling bloc<.
o# needle "lood$ed bigail is saying that (abals offense is no reason to ta<e revenge. 8e all need to
guard against needless behavior. David has seen a lot of needless bloodshed.
And w$en &$e 5?R) $a "!ou.$& m' ma&e! u,,e 8hen David becomes <ing. bigail is saying that
<illing (abal would come bac< to haunt David when he becomes <ing. (otice bigails use of the Gords
(ame, D times. 8e need to thin< of the Gord when we do things. 8ould our action be in the 8ill of the
Gord. 8ould he approve of it. Davids revenge on (abal wouldnt loo< good for him as <ing and
administrator of ;ustice. In the $illennium we will be ;udges, so how would it loo< today if we see< to be
petty.
!emem"e! 'ou! e!*an& remember my advice
She appealed to David>
She pointed out that &od had providentially caused her to meet David to prevent him from committing
murder and thus to become bloodguilty 3=S 2B>2?5.
She pointed out that &od is the rightful avenger 3!e deals with fools li<e (abal) fools correlate to the
ungodly who deserve punishment> =S 2B>2?5.
She pointed to the gift that she brought and reminded David that he would receive greater gifts, a dynasty, if
he served &od in honor 3=S 2B>2D, 2A5.
She reminded David that &od would protect him 0from Saul1 3=S 2B>2F5.
She reminded David that &od would ;udge his enemies 3=S 2B5
D
"2
)a*id aid &o A"i.ail, 1P!aie "e &o &$e 5?R), &$e 2od o# I!ael, w$o $a en& 'ou &oda' &o mee&
me(
==
+a' 'ou "e "leed #o! 'ou! .ood Aud.men& and #o! :ee-in. me #!om "lood$ed &$i da' and
#!om a*en.in. m'el# wi&$ m' own $and(
=>
?&$e!wie, a u!el' a &$e 5?R), &$e 2od o# I!ael,
li*e, w$o $a :e-& me #!om $a!min. 'ou, i# 'ou $ad no& ,ome Bui,:l' &o mee& me, no& one male
"elon.in. &o Na"al would $a*e "een le#& ali*e "' da'"!ea:(1
a*en.in. m'el# wi&$ m' own $and This is all about David defending his honor. Saul has mistreated him
and hes sic< and tired of it, so he sought revenge against (abal for mistreating him.
David planned on attac<ing (abal at night.
i# 'ou $ad no& ,ome Bui,:l' &o mee& me, no& one male "elon.in. &o Na"al would $a*e "een le#& ali*e
This is one time I li<e the C2K. It reads, -except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not
been left unto (abal by the morning light any that -ie&$ a.ain& &$e wall.-

"B
T$en )a*id a,,e-&ed #!om $e! $and w$a& $e $ad "!ou.$& $im and aid, 12o $ome in -ea,e( I $a*e
$ea!d 'ou! wo!d and .!an&ed 'ou! !eBue&(1
T$en )a*id a,,e-&ed #!om $e! $and The !ebrew words are used for payment of debt.
2o $ome in -ea,e &o home in prosperity.
I $a*e $ea!d 'ou! wo!d and .!an&ed 'ou! !eBue& 7r lit. +I have lifted your face.-
bigails advice was logical, doctrinal, and clear.
She cooled off David.
"?
W$en A"i.ail wen& &o Na"al, $e wa in &$e $oue $oldin. a "anBue& li:e &$a& o# a :in.( He wa in
$i.$ -i!i& and *e!' d!un:( So $e &old $im no&$in. un&il da'"!ea:(
$oldin. a "anBue&. The big party was to celebrate his great profits. It was li<e a company party. pparently
bigail wasnt missed at the party. t least we have no record of (abal as<ing her where she was.
bigail <new when to tal< and when to <eep 'uiet, a rare trait for a woman or for a man. She didnt tell him
the bad news, to him at least, while he was having fun. She didnt want to spoil his party.
gain, notice how (abal is li<e Saul. !e was having a ban'uet li<e that of a <ing but refused the re'uest of
the future <ing.

"D
T$en in &$e mo!nin., w$en Na"al wa o"e!, $i wi#e &old $im all &$ee &$in., and $i $ea!& #ailed
$im and $e "e,ame li:e a &one(
w$en Na"al wa o"e! Git. +when the wine was drained out of him.- 38*%5
A
$i wi#e &old $im all &$ee &$in. 8hich probably included telling him of all the provisions she gave David.
Its li<e a wife telling her husband she maxed out her credit card limit of =# thousand dollars. She li<ely told
the story with some exaggeration. (abal probably realiIed how close he was to being <illed by David and his
heart couldnt ta<e the shoc<.
*ecause of his greed, the party ended for good. ll that he had would soon be Davids.
$e "e,ame li:e a &one !e became immobiliIed.
"A
A"ou& &en da' la&e!, &$e 5?R) &!u,: Na"al and $e died(
!e probably died of a heart attac<.
(abal died at &ods hand as will Saul.
"F
W$en )a*id $ea!d &$a& Na"al wa dead, $e aid, 1P!aie "e &o &$e 5?R), w$o $a u-$eld m' ,aue
a.ain& Na"al #o! &!ea&in. me wi&$ ,on&em-&( He $a :e-& $i e!*an& #!om doin. w!on. and $a
"!ou.$& Na"al/ w!on.doin. down on $i own $ead(1 T$en )a*id en& wo!d &o A"i.ail, a:in. $e! &o
"e,ome $i wi#e(
David praises &od for (abals death. Im not sure that would be a (T behavior.
P!aie "e &o &$e 5?R), w$o $a u-$eld m' ,aue The allusion is to a cause tried at the gate of an Israelite
city with friends of the accused both pleading his cause, defending him from wrong, and punishing any who
had wronged him. So &od had avenged David, while preventing him by bigail s interference from avenging
himself.
He $a :e-& $i e!*an& #!om doin. w!on. and $a "!ou.$& Na"al/ w!on.doin. down on $i own $ead
,or the most part we ma<e our own misery.
>D
Hi e!*an& wen& &o Ca!mel and aid &o A"i.ail, 1)a*id $a en& u &o 'ou &o &a:e 'ou &o "e,ome $i
wi#e(1
@=
S$e "owed down wi&$ $e! #a,e &o &$e .!ound and aid, 1He!e i 'ou! maide!*an&, !ead' &o
e!*e 'ou and wa$ &$e #ee& o# m' ma&e!/ e!*an&(1
8ashing the feet of servants would be the wor< of a slave.

@2
A"i.ail Bui,:l' .o& on a don:e' and, a&&ended "' $e! #i*e maid, wen& wi&$ )a*id/ meen.e! and
"e,ame $i wi#e(
A"i.ail Bui,:l' .o& on a don:e' This is the fourth time bigail did something 'uic<ly, but I bet she got on
her don<ey really 'uic< since she was going off to marry David.
Some authors say bigail was probably Davids half sister. 34*%5 7ther authors totally dismiss the idea.
7ne author points out that David doesnt fear Saul too much since he allows women to travel with him,
which would slow him down if attac<ed by Saul.
F
a&&ended "' $e! #i*e maid 8hy mention this. $aybe it shows that bigail didnt figure on being hunted
by Saul for very long and that when David becomes <ing, she will need her trusted maids. They wal<ed
behind her.

@"
)a*id $ad alo ma!!ied A$inoam o# <eE!eel, and &$e' "o&$ we!e $i wi*e(
David married hinoam before he married bigail. The only other hinoam mentioned in the *ible is the
wife of Saul 3=@>B#5, and it has therefore been plausibly suggested that, before David too< bigail to become
his wife, he had already asserted his right to the throne of Israel by marrying Oueen hinoam))a tactic
perhaps hinted at in (athanEs speech to David. 7ther authors re;ect this idea. 38*%5
She becomes one of Davids eight wives 3= Sa =A>2D6 2 Sa ">2)B6 =2>2@5. 7f these eight, probably bigail
was the source of the greatest good in Davids life.

@@
0u& Saul $ad .i*en $i dau.$&e! +i,$al, )a*id/ wi#e, &o Pal&iel on o# 5ai$, w$o wa #!om 2allim(
Saul is trying to show that David has no connection by marriage with the throne and that in his eyes, he is a
dead man. !e li<ely doubted $ichals story of Davids escape and did this to punish his daughter.
8hen David regained his power, he too< bac< $ichal from her second husband, 2Sam ">=@. hinoam is the
mother of DavidEs first son and bigail of his second 32 Sam ">26 = %h ">=5.
These marriages were allowed by the 9ermissive 8ill of &od.
A"i.ail and 0a&$$e"a(
bigailEs behavior uplifted David
*athsheba brought him into sin.
*athsheba allowed herself to be seduced by David while still married to her husband, Priah the !ittite.
bigail remained faithful to (abal, yet loyal to David as well.
*athsheba passively allowed or invited David to sin, bigail actively dissuaded him from doing so.
*athshebaEs sin with David led to DavidEs murdering Priah.
bigail stopped David from murdering the foolish (abal.
&od himself struc< (abal, allowing bigail to become DavidEs legitimate wife.
David and *athshebaEs sin lead to d the death of their first child.
lthough bigail did not become the ancestor of any of DavidEs many royal descendants, she was perhaps
the most deserving of DavidEs wives. 3(ew 8orld 4ncyclopedia5
=#