Sister of David; mother of Amasa
Abigail
Named in 3 verses across 2 books, first in 2 Samuel 17:25.
אֲבִיגַ֫יִלAbigail
אֲבִיגַ֫לAbigal
Also called Abigal.
The name means “the father's joy.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
About Abigail Written by AI
Abigail was the daughter of Jesse and the sister of King David, as mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:16 to 17. She married a man named Jether, who was an Ishmaelite (2 Samuel 17:25). Abigail and Jether had a son named Amasa, who played a significant role during the rebellion of David's son Absalom. During Absalom's revolt against David, Absalom appointed Amasa as the commander of his army, replacing Joab, who had been David's military commander (2 Samuel 17:25). After Absalom's defeat and death, David offered Amasa the position of commander-in-chief to appease the supporters of Absalom. However, when David sent Amasa to gather the men of Judah, he took longer than expected. This delay prompted David to send Abishai and Joab to pursue the rebel Sheba. Joab, seeing Amasa as a threat to his position, killed him (2 Samuel 20:4 to 13). The biblical text does not provide further information about Abigail's life or her reaction to her son's death.
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
This entry is on the name Abigail, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.
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).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names her
- 2 Samuel 17:25
Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
- 1 Chronicles 2:16
Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
- 1 Chronicles 2:17
Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.