David Marries Abigail

David hears of Nabal's death and blesses the LORD for defending his cause and keeping him from taking revenge himself. He then sends for Abigail, and she receives the proposal with humility before going with his messengers.

O³⁹n 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.” ⁴⁰Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. When his servants came to Abigail at Carmel, they said, “David has sent us to take you as his wife.” ⁴¹She arose, bowed facedown, and said, “Here is your servant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” ⁴²So Abigail hurried and got on a donkey, and attended by five of her maidens, she followed David’s messengers and became his wife.

The chapter closes by noting that David has also married Ahinoam, while Saul has given Michal, David's wife, to Palti of Gallim. David's household grows even as Saul continues to act against him.

⁴³David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel. So she and Abigail were both his wives. ⁴⁴But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Palti son of Laish, who was from Gallim.