Abigail's Speech

Reading: 1 Samuel 25:23-31

I’ve been following Rachel Olsen’s Bible study lessons on women of the Bible. I’m always in awe of the roles God called women to play, especially Abigail’s. Go here to read Rachel’s comments:

Since Rachel has done a wonderful job of presenting the overview of the life of Abigail, I want to focus on her speech. I’m intrigued with her speech. So, let’s take it verse by verse.

As soon as Abigail saw David, she wasted no time; she, humbly and quickly, got down with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and began her speech: “On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be!” (vv. 23-24 NKJV). She was saying, let me take the blame. Now, if you read the verse before, you notice that David was murmuring to his fellow soldiers about how angry he was that Nabal had shown disrespect to him. So, I’m sure Abigail, in her wisdom, noticed the tension David was in-the anger on his face. She humbly dismounted and fell face down to the ground. Immediately pleaded for mercy, putting her life on the line.

So, first she said, let me take the blame alone. Next, she said, allow me-your servant-to speak to you. Hear what I have to say. She didn’t pause, she didn’t stop, immediately went on her next task which was to address Nabal’s foolishness (v.25). She said, “may my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent.” So humble and bold. What she was saying was Nabal was foolish. He was living up to his name. Had Abigail seen the men David sent, they would not have returned to him emptied.

Then, she wasted no time to tell David of his benefits (v.26). God has kept David from bloodshed; anyone who would have fought him would become foolish like Nabal. She addressed two parts on this verse: 1) she said God has kept David from bloodshed. How? Well, she came to him before he reached her home. I’m sure it took time for her to bake all those breads and prepared all those gifts. David, on the other hand, had wasted no time to organize his soldiers for the battle. So, does it take more time to bake or to organize the troop? She packed “200 loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, 100 cakes of raisins, and 200 hundred cakes of pressed figs” (v.18). Just to count the things she brought, took time, and to bake it? Well, I’ll let you do the math. She knew David was smart enough to figure out that it was God who brought her to him before he reached her home. 2) She said, since God saved David from bloodshed, not having to avenge his own life, let anyone who was to fight with him become foolish like Nabal. What she was really saying was that Nabal was foolish, but David was wise because God favored him.

Verse 27, Abigail offered David her gifts and asked him to distribute among his followers. She was, in her own wise ways, telling David she brought enough for his whole army.

Verse 28, she once again asked for his mercy not because she deserved it but because God favored David to fight His battle. From verse 28 to 29, she prophetically spoke of God’s provision and protection of him and establishing his future reign as king of Israel. She said that he would be securely bound in “bundle of the living by the Lord”. “Bundle”-when I think of bundles I think of many things in one package or deal. Like Time Warner’s cable bundle: you get t.v., internet, and phone for one low monthly price-David would be blessed with many good things as he abided with God: he ended up as king of Israel, Abigail as his wife, and a promise to have his descendents never to descend from the thrown of Israel.

And, anyone who wished to destroy him would be hurled away. He was guaranteed to be safe because he was fighting the Lord’s battle. In verses 30 & 31, she said when God has blessed him with all good things he will have peace knowing that he didn’t kill Nabal, as he reigned over Israel: “my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself…”

Finally, she asked him: “And when the Lord has brought my master success, remember your servant” (v.31b). She gave him one of the most profound and bold speeches of all time. Then, she boldly and humbly asked him to remember her when he became successful.

She’s the only woman recorded for making the longest female speech in the Old Testament. Her speech changed David’s heart of pursuit for Nabal. She overcame his anger with benefits of peace and God’s provision and protection of him and his life as her master and king of Israel. Throughout her speech, she consistently addressed him as her master and herself as his servant. She elegantly crafted her speech to create a sense of intelligence and honor for David in such a way that has turned his heat of anger into peace and calmness. He accepted her gifts and her speech and promised to fulfill her request.

As a woman who desires to show God a fearful heart, I’m in awe of Abigail’s wisdom. She had a discerning heart. God blessed her: He took Nabal away from her and replaced him with David as her husband. She went from living in an abused relationship to living in an honorable one. She became one of the most blessed queens in Biblical time. Her life presented an example of God’s blessing for women who persevere through difficult relationships. I’ve been encouraged by her strength and blessings. I hope you have, too.

For more discussions of Abigail, please visit Rachel’s blog.