The Seed of the Woman: Narratives That Point to JesusSample

The opening scene of Abigail’s story features Samuel’s death, which triggers a manhunt. David had been anointed by Samuel to replace a disobedient King Saul, but Saul was in no mood to hand over power. So David flees to the wilderness of Paran, Saul hot on his heels.

Abigail, meanwhile, was the wife of a wealthy man named Nabal. Her husband was rich in livestock but lacking in character. He’s described as “harsh and badly behaved” (1 Sam. 25:3). It happened that Nabal’s shepherds were in the wilderness of Paran at the same time as David.

David was traveling with hundreds of men, who assumed the duty of protecting Nabal’s herdsmen while there. They served as a “wall” around these workers, shielding them day and night from danger. In exchange, when the day of shearing came, David sent messengers to greet Nabal hoping to receive a show of generosity in recognition of his men’s service (1 Sam. 25:6–8).

Unfortunately, Nabal chose to humiliate David instead of demonstrating grateful hospitality. Perhaps Abigail was away when David’s greeting arrived; all we know is that she missed his men for some reason (1 Sam. 25:25) and the messengers were left to Nabal’s company. Nabal proceeded to rail sarcastically at David’s men, pretending to have no knowledge of their leader.

The foolish man’s untamed tongue fueled the flames of David’s anger and a fire threatened to consume Nabal (1 Sam. 25:34). David vowed to murder Nabal and his family (1 Sam. 25:22). And here, Abigail steps onto the stage of the narrative.

She enters the scene like a busy triage nurse, assessing damage and treating wounds. It’s immediately clear that the safety of Nabal’s household rested on Abigail’s wisdom. A servant came to inform her of the impending disaster and looked to her for their salvation (1 Sam. 25:14–17). Abigail made haste and gathered large portions of food and drink, displaying generosity after Nabal had shown greediness. She laid these provisions on donkeys and set out to meet David (1 Sam. 25:18–20). One unarmed woman heading toward four hundred swordsmen.

We are not given Abigail’s thoughts as she rode to face a vengeful David. Was she nervous? Was this the first time she was working to rescue Nabal, or one of countless occasions? Did she feel anger toward his imprudence? Did she replay the events that had made her the wife of a worthless man? We have no answers, but this we might venture: Abigail’s thoughts were perhaps on God’s Word as she rode, for this would be her defense before David.

The woman saw the warriors and prostrated herself on the ground before David, their leader.

Abigail’s speech, which we read in 1 Sam. 25:24–28, ought to impress us. She was willing to bear Nabal’s guilt and take the punishment due her unworthy husband to save the lives of the males in her household.

She met the force of four hundred warriors with soft words that turned away David’s wrath. His heart went from rage to worship. He exclaimed: “Blessed be the Lord… Blessed be your discretion, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodguilt” (1 Sam. 25:32–33). Abigail’s mediation had kept David from reacting as foolishly as the self-centered Nabal. David turned back to the wilderness and left vengeance to Yahweh.

Nabal died ten days after this incident (1 Sam. 25:38). Abigail was widowed—but not for long. David requested her hand and she rode to him again, this time as his wife (1 Sam. 25:39–42).

Abigail was a masterful communicator, but in her we see something even more stunning: a foreshadowing of Christ. Our self-centered hearts disregard God’s authority in many ways. We are sinners who have earned his righteous anger. Our hope for pardon rests in Christ alone, a mediator even better than Abigail. He charged forward to face God’s just wrath on our behalf and offered not just wisdom but his own life.