Atomic Bible

Wealthy Carmelite; husband of Abigail. He was known for foolishness.

Nabal

Named in 18 verses across 2 books, first in 1 Samuel 25:3.

נָבָלNabal

The name means “fool; senseless.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

Married to
Abigail

About Nabal Written by AI

Nabal was a wealthy man from Carmel who lived during the time of King David. He is described as a Calebite, indicating his descent from the tribe of Judah. Nabal was married to Abigail, a beautiful and intelligent woman (1 Samuel 25:3). Despite his wealth, Nabal was known for his harsh and foolish behavior. When David and his men, who had been protecting Nabal's shepherds and flocks, requested provisions, Nabal rudely refused, insulting David and his men (1 Samuel 25:4 to 11). This foolish act provoked David to seek revenge, threatening to kill Nabal and all the males in his household. Abigail, upon learning of her husband's foolishness, quickly intervened. She gathered a generous supply of food and went out to meet David, apologizing for Nabal's behavior and pleading for mercy (1 Samuel 25:18 to 31). Her wise actions and words appeased David, who relented from his plan to attack Nabal's household. When Abigail informed Nabal of how close he had come to disaster, his heart failed him, and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal, and he died (1 Samuel 25:36 to 38). After Nabal's death, David sent for Abigail and married her (1 Samuel 25:39 to 42). Nabal's story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of foolishness, selfishness, and mistreating others. It also highlights the wisdom and courage of Abigail, who acted decisively to protect her household and make peace with David.

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

Foolish, a descendant of Caleb who dwelt at Maon (1 Sam. 25), the modern Main, 7 miles south-east of Hebron. He was “very great, and he had 3,000 sheep and 1,000 goats...but the man was churlish and evil in his doings.” During his wanderings David came into that district, and hearing that Nabal was about to shear his sheep, he sent ten of his young men to ask “whatsoever cometh unto thy hand for thy servants.” Nabal insultingly resented the demand, saying, “Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse?” (1 Sam. 25:10, 11). One of the shepherds that stood by and saw the reception David’s messengers had met with, informed Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who at once realized the danger that threatened her household. She forthwith proceeded to the camp of David, bringing with her ample stores of provisions (25:18). She so courteously and persuasively pled her cause that David’s anger was appeased, and he said to her, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel which sent thee this day to meet me.”

On her return she found her husband incapable from drunkenness of understanding the state of matters, and not till the following day did she explain to him what had happened. He was stunned by a sense of the danger to which his conduct had exposed him. “His heart died within him, and he became as a stone.” and about ten days after “the Lord smote Nabal that he died” (1 Sam. 25:37, 38). Not long after David married Abigail (q.v.).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 1 Samuel 25:3

    His name was Nabal, and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband, a Calebite, was harsh and evil in his dealings.

  2. 1 Samuel 25:4

    While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep.

  3. 1 Samuel 25:5

    So David sent ten young men and instructed them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him in my name

  4. 1 Samuel 25:9

    When David’s young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited.

  5. 1 Samuel 25:10

    But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters.

  6. 1 Samuel 25:14

    Meanwhile, one of Nabal’s young men informed Nabal’s wife Abigail, “Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master, but he screamed at them.

  7. 1 Samuel 25:19

    and said to her young men, “Go ahead of me. I will be right behind you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

  8. 1 Samuel 25:25

    My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent.

  9. 1 Samuel 25:26

    Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.

  10. 1 Samuel 25:34

    Otherwise, as surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, who has restrained me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, then surely no male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by morning light.”

  11. 1 Samuel 25:36

    When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.

  12. 1 Samuel 25:37

    In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him about these events, and his heart failed within him, and he became like a stone.

  13. 1 Samuel 25:38

    About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal dead.

  14. 1 Samuel 25:39

    On hearing that Nabal was dead, David said, “Blessed be the LORD, who has upheld my cause against the reproach of Nabal and has restrained His servant from evil. For the LORD has brought the wickedness of Nabal down upon his own head.” Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife.

  15. 1 Samuel 27:3

    David and his men settled in Gath with Achish. Each man had his family with him, and David had his two wives: Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail of Carmel, the widow of Nabal.

  16. 1 Samuel 30:5

    David’s two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken captive.

  17. 2 Samuel 2:2

    So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.

  18. 2 Samuel 3:3

    his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur;

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.