New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
1 Samuel 25
1
Samuel died. The whole nation of Israel gathered together. They were filled with sorrow because he was dead. They buried his body at his home in Ramah. Then David went down into the Desert of Maon.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Chronicles 33:20
Acts 8:2
Genesis 21:21
1 Kings 2:34
References Israel
1 Samuel 28:3
Deuteronomy 34:8
Numbers 20:29
Numbers 10:12
Numbers 13:3
2
A certain man in Maon was very wealthy. He owned property there at Carmel. He had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep. He was clipping the wool off the sheep in Carmel.
Reference
3
His name was Nabal. His wife's name was Abigail. She was a wise and beautiful woman. But her husband was rude and mean in the way he treated others. He was from the family of Caleb.
Reference
People
4
David was staying in the Desert of Maon. While he was there, he heard that Nabal was clipping the wool off his sheep.
5
So he sent for ten young men. He said to them, "Go up to Nabal at Carmel. Greet him for me.
6
Say to him, 'May you live a long time! May everything go well with you and your family! And may things go well with everything that belongs to you!
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Timothy 5:6
Peace
1 Chronicles 12:18
Luke 10:5
Psalm 122:7
John 14:27
2 Thessalonians 3:16
7
" 'I hear that you are clipping the wool off your sheep. When your shepherds were with us, we treated them well. The whole time they were at Carmel nothing that belonged to them was stolen.
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Samuel 25:21
8
Ask your own servants. They'll tell you. We've come to you now at a happy time of the year. Please show favor to my young men. Please give me and my men anything you can find for us.' "
Reference
Good
Esther 9:19
9
When David's men arrived, they gave Nabal the message from David. Then they waited.
10
Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are running away from their masters these days.
Reference
Parallel theme
Judges 9:28
11
Why should I give away my bread and water? Why should I give away the meat I've prepared for those who clip the wool off my sheep? Why should I give food to men who come from who knows where?"
Reference
12
So David's men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported to David every word Nabal had spoken.
13
David said to his men, "Put on your swords!" So they put their swords on. David put his on too. About 400 men went up with David. Two hundred men stayed behind with the supplies.
Reference
References David
1 Samuel 23:13
14
One of the servants warned Nabal's wife Abigail. He said, "David sent some messengers from the desert to give his greetings to our master. But Nabal shouted at them and made fun of them.
15
"David's men had been very good to us. They treated us well. The whole time we were near them out in the fields, nothing was stolen.
Reference
16
We were taking care of our sheep near them. During that time, they were like a wall around us night and day. They kept us safe.
Reference
17
"Now think it over. See what you can do. Horrible trouble will soon come to our master and his whole family. He's such an evil man that no one can even talk to him."
Reference
18
Abigail didn't waste any time. She got 200 loaves of bread and two bottles of wine. The bottles were made out of animal skins. She got five sheep that were ready to be cooked. She got a bushel of grain that had been cooked. She got 100 raisin cakes. And she got 200 cakes of pressed figs. She loaded all of it on the backs of donkeys.
Reference
19
Then she told her servants, "Go on ahead. I'll follow you." But she didn't tell her husband Nabal about it.
Reference
20
Abigail rode her donkey into a mountain valley. There she saw David and his men. They were coming down toward her.
21
David had just said, "Everything we've done hasn't been worth a thing! I watched over that fellow's property in the desert. I made sure none of it was stolen. But he has paid me back evil for good.
Reference
Evil
Proverbs 17:13
Ephesians 4:31
Romans 12:21
1 Thessalonians 5:15
1 Peter 3:17
Parallel theme
Ephesians 4:26
22
I won't leave even one of his men alive until morning. If I do, may God punish me greatly!"
Reference
23
When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey. She bowed down in front of David with her face toward the ground.
Reference
24
She fell at his feet. She said, "Please let me speak to you, sir. Listen to what I'm saying. Let me take the blame myself.
Reference
25
Don't pay any attention to that evil man Nabal. His name means Foolish Person. And that's exactly what he is. He's always doing foolish things. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to see the men you sent.
Reference
26
"Sir, the Lord has kept you from killing Nabal and his men. He has kept you from using your own hands to get even. May what's about to happen to Nabal happen to all of your enemies. May it also happen to everyone who wants to harm you. And may it happen just as surely as the Lord and you are alive.
Reference
28
Please forgive me for what I've done wrong. "The Lord will certainly give you and your family line a kingdom that will last. That's because you fight the Lord's battles. Don't do anything wrong as long as you live.
Reference
Evil
1 Samuel 24:11
Parallel theme
1 Kings 9:5
2 Samuel 7:16
Prayer
1 Chronicles 17:25
References Lord
1 Samuel 18:17
2 Samuel 7:11
1 Chronicles 17:10
29
"Someone may chase you and try to kill you. But the Lord your God will keep your life safe like a treasure that is hidden in a bag. And he'll destroy your enemies. Their lives will be thrown away, just as a stone is thrown from a sling.
Reference
Parallel theme
John 17:21
Psalm 66:9
John 17:23
1 Samuel 2:9
References God
1 Peter 1:5
References Lord
Psalm 116:15
Jeremiah 10:18
Malachi 3:17
Genesis 15:1
Deuteronomy 33:29
30
"The Lord will do for you every good thing he promised to do. He'll appoint you leader over Israel.
Reference
References Lord
1 Samuel 13:14
31
When that happens, you won't have this heavy load on your mind. You won't have to worry about how you killed people without any reason. You won't have to worry about how you got even. The Lord will give you success. When that happens, please remember me."
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 40:14
32
David said to Abigail, "Give praise to the Lord. He is the God of Israel. He has sent you today to find me.
Reference
Blessing
Luke 1:68
Psalm 72:18
Exodus 18:10
Genesis 24:27
Ezra 7:27
References God
2 Corinthians 8:16
33
May the Lord bless you for what you have done. You have shown a lot of good sense. You have kept me from killing Nabal and his men this very day. You have kept me from using my own hands to get even.
Reference
34
"It's a good thing you came quickly to meet me. If you hadn't come, not one of Nabal's men would have been left alive by sunrise. And that's just as sure as the Lord, the God of Israel, is alive. He has kept me from harming you."
35
Then David accepted from her what she had brought him. He said, "Go home in peace. I've heard your words. I'll do what you have asked."
Reference
36
Abigail went back to Nabal. He was having a dinner party in the house. It was the kind of dinner a king would have. He had been drinking too much wine. He was very drunk. So she didn't tell him anything at all until sunrise.
Reference
Kingdom
2 Samuel 13:23
Parallel theme
Proverbs 20:1
1 Samuel 25:19
2 Samuel 13:28
Romans 13:13
Matthew 10:16
37
The next morning Nabal wasn't drunk anymore. Then his wife told him everything. When she did, his heart grew weak. He became like a stone.
38
About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal down. And he died.
Reference
References Lord
1 Samuel 26:10
39
David heard that Nabal was dead. So he said, "Give praise to the Lord. Nabal made fun of me. But the Lord stood up for me. He has kept me from doing something wrong. He has paid Nabal back for the wrong things he did." Then David sent a message to Abigail. He asked her to become his wife.
Reference
Blessing
1 Samuel 25:32
Evil
1 Samuel 25:26
1 Kings 2:44
Parallel theme
Psalm 7:16
References Lord
Proverbs 22:23
1 Samuel 25:34
1 Samuel 24:15
40
His servants went to Carmel. They said to Abigail, "David has sent us to you. He wants you to come back with us and become his wife."
41
Abigail bowed down with her face toward the ground. She said, "Here I am. I'm ready to serve him. I'm ready to wash the feet of his servants."
Reference
42
Abigail quickly got on a donkey and went with David's messengers. Her five female servants went with her. She became David's wife.
Summary of 1 Samuel 25
1 Samuel 25 opens with the death of Samuel, and honestly, his passing is a huge deal. He wasn't just another prophet—Samuel was that anchor in Israel, a judge, a spiritual leader, and the guy people looked to when things got messy. When he died, the country came together. Everyone mourned for him at his home in Ramah. It felt like the closing of a chapter, as if a curtain had been drawn on an era that shaped Israel.
After Samuel was gone, David and his crew retreated into the wilderness of Paran. David was still on the run, with Saul chasing after him because Saul couldn't let go of his jealousy, seeing David as a threat. It's wild to think David had about six hundred men with him, all fugitives, surviving on the generosity—or tolerance—of the locals. Every day was uncertain; every meal depended on someone’s kindness or their willingness to look the other way.
Then the story shifts to Nabal, this rich guy living in Carmel. He owned thousands of sheep and goats—a big deal back then; it meant wealth and status. Nabal’s name literally means “fool,” and he lived up to it. He was abrasive, greedy, and downright hard to stomach. His wife, Abigail, was the opposite—sharp-minded and beautiful. A classic case of opposites, really.
Sheep-shearing season in those days was more than just farm work—it was party time, a moment when people handed out gifts and food, celebrated, and let their generosity shine. David picked up on this and sent ten men to ask Nabal for some provisions, just whatever he might spare. David’s men had looked after Nabal’s shepherds, kept their sheep safe from wandering bands of thieves, so this was more like a friendly favor than a shakedown.
David’s message to Nabal was polite, not demanding. He pointed out that he’d kept Nabal’s workers safe in the wilderness, never asked for payment, just wanted to be remembered during Nabal’s big feast. Straightforward stuff.
But Nabal? He was having none of it. He treated David like nobody—a rebel, a runaway, not worth his time. Nabal basically said, “Why should I give my food to a stranger?” Talk about stingy. He slammed the door in David’s face.
David’s men carried Nabal’s answer back. David, furious, told his men to grab their swords. Four hundred followed him, ready for confrontation, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. Things were about to get ugly, fast.
Behind the scenes, one of Nabal’s servants realized the danger staring them in the face. He ran to Abigail, desperate for help. He explained David’s men had been nothing but kind—guarding their flocks, making sure trouble never came near. He called Nabal “worthless,” too stubborn to reason with, and shared that nobody could get through to him.
Abigail wasted no time. She got it—her husband’s foolishness was about to cost lives, maybe everything she had. She packed up a generous offering: loaves of bread, wine, slaughtered sheep, roasted grain, raisins, figs. She loaded up donkeys, sent everything ahead, and followed herself. She wasn’t waiting for permission; she knew what had to be done.
When Abigail met David, she dismounted, humbled herself, and begged David to listen. She took the blame for Nabal’s foolishness, even though she had nothing to do with it. Abigail appealed to David’s better nature, reminding him that God was on his side, that he fought battles not for himself but for the Lord. She warned against rash revenge, saying if he shed blood in anger, he’d regret it later. She urged him to let God handle his enemies.
Abigail went further and spoke about David's future. She believed deeply that God would secure David’s house and leadership over Israel. She wanted him to make decisions that fit the kind of king he was promised to become, not the kind of angry man who acts without thinking.
David listened. Something about Abigail’s words got through to him—the wisdom, the humility, the honesty. He realized he was about to cross a line, all because of hurt pride. He thanked God for Abigail, for her timing, and for her sense. He promised not to attack, accepted her gifts, and sent her home with peace.
Abigail got back and found Nabal celebrating—a king-sized feast, too drunk to talk sense to. She waited until morning. When he sobered up, she told him how close he’d come to ruin and death. The news was too much: Nabal’s heart failed, and he became paralyzed, almost like stone. Ten days later, God struck him, and he died.
David heard what happened and praised God for intervening. He was grateful not just for Nabal’s fate, but for being spared from acting on revenge. David respected how God handled things, and he moved forward without that stain on his conscience.
Then David sent for Abigail, inviting her to become his wife. She agreed, packed quickly, brought her attendants, and joined him. David had another wife, Ahinoam from Jezreel, and his first wife, Michal, had been taken away by Saul and given to someone else—a reminder of the complicated world David lived in.
The whole story really highlights three types of character: Nabal, rich but foolish, obsessed with himself; Abigail, equally wealthy, but full of wisdom and courage; David, strong and capable, but prone to letting anger cloud his judgment. Abigail’s intervention stopped David from making a mistake that would haunt him down the line. Earlier, David had spared Saul, refusing to kill him even when he could. Yet here, egged on by rage, he almost did the opposite. It shows how being wronged doesn't mean you’re justified in seeking payback.
The theme of waiting for God stands out again. David was promised the throne but kept finding himself tested—with patience, with self-control, with choosing who he wanted to be. Abigail's actions weren't just clever, they were bold. She stepped up, took charge, and calmly resolved a crisis—the sort of wisdom that saves lives.
By the end, Nabal is gone, David’s hands are clean, and Abigail joins him as his wife. The stage is set for David’s ongoing struggle with Saul, but more than that, these events keep proving David’s character, highlighting the kind of king he’s meant to become, and reminding us how much hinges on moments of wisdom and restraint.
After Samuel was gone, David and his crew retreated into the wilderness of Paran. David was still on the run, with Saul chasing after him because Saul couldn't let go of his jealousy, seeing David as a threat. It's wild to think David had about six hundred men with him, all fugitives, surviving on the generosity—or tolerance—of the locals. Every day was uncertain; every meal depended on someone’s kindness or their willingness to look the other way.
Then the story shifts to Nabal, this rich guy living in Carmel. He owned thousands of sheep and goats—a big deal back then; it meant wealth and status. Nabal’s name literally means “fool,” and he lived up to it. He was abrasive, greedy, and downright hard to stomach. His wife, Abigail, was the opposite—sharp-minded and beautiful. A classic case of opposites, really.
Sheep-shearing season in those days was more than just farm work—it was party time, a moment when people handed out gifts and food, celebrated, and let their generosity shine. David picked up on this and sent ten men to ask Nabal for some provisions, just whatever he might spare. David’s men had looked after Nabal’s shepherds, kept their sheep safe from wandering bands of thieves, so this was more like a friendly favor than a shakedown.
David’s message to Nabal was polite, not demanding. He pointed out that he’d kept Nabal’s workers safe in the wilderness, never asked for payment, just wanted to be remembered during Nabal’s big feast. Straightforward stuff.
But Nabal? He was having none of it. He treated David like nobody—a rebel, a runaway, not worth his time. Nabal basically said, “Why should I give my food to a stranger?” Talk about stingy. He slammed the door in David’s face.
David’s men carried Nabal’s answer back. David, furious, told his men to grab their swords. Four hundred followed him, ready for confrontation, while two hundred stayed with the supplies. Things were about to get ugly, fast.
Behind the scenes, one of Nabal’s servants realized the danger staring them in the face. He ran to Abigail, desperate for help. He explained David’s men had been nothing but kind—guarding their flocks, making sure trouble never came near. He called Nabal “worthless,” too stubborn to reason with, and shared that nobody could get through to him.
Abigail wasted no time. She got it—her husband’s foolishness was about to cost lives, maybe everything she had. She packed up a generous offering: loaves of bread, wine, slaughtered sheep, roasted grain, raisins, figs. She loaded up donkeys, sent everything ahead, and followed herself. She wasn’t waiting for permission; she knew what had to be done.
When Abigail met David, she dismounted, humbled herself, and begged David to listen. She took the blame for Nabal’s foolishness, even though she had nothing to do with it. Abigail appealed to David’s better nature, reminding him that God was on his side, that he fought battles not for himself but for the Lord. She warned against rash revenge, saying if he shed blood in anger, he’d regret it later. She urged him to let God handle his enemies.
Abigail went further and spoke about David's future. She believed deeply that God would secure David’s house and leadership over Israel. She wanted him to make decisions that fit the kind of king he was promised to become, not the kind of angry man who acts without thinking.
David listened. Something about Abigail’s words got through to him—the wisdom, the humility, the honesty. He realized he was about to cross a line, all because of hurt pride. He thanked God for Abigail, for her timing, and for her sense. He promised not to attack, accepted her gifts, and sent her home with peace.
Abigail got back and found Nabal celebrating—a king-sized feast, too drunk to talk sense to. She waited until morning. When he sobered up, she told him how close he’d come to ruin and death. The news was too much: Nabal’s heart failed, and he became paralyzed, almost like stone. Ten days later, God struck him, and he died.
David heard what happened and praised God for intervening. He was grateful not just for Nabal’s fate, but for being spared from acting on revenge. David respected how God handled things, and he moved forward without that stain on his conscience.
Then David sent for Abigail, inviting her to become his wife. She agreed, packed quickly, brought her attendants, and joined him. David had another wife, Ahinoam from Jezreel, and his first wife, Michal, had been taken away by Saul and given to someone else—a reminder of the complicated world David lived in.
The whole story really highlights three types of character: Nabal, rich but foolish, obsessed with himself; Abigail, equally wealthy, but full of wisdom and courage; David, strong and capable, but prone to letting anger cloud his judgment. Abigail’s intervention stopped David from making a mistake that would haunt him down the line. Earlier, David had spared Saul, refusing to kill him even when he could. Yet here, egged on by rage, he almost did the opposite. It shows how being wronged doesn't mean you’re justified in seeking payback.
The theme of waiting for God stands out again. David was promised the throne but kept finding himself tested—with patience, with self-control, with choosing who he wanted to be. Abigail's actions weren't just clever, they were bold. She stepped up, took charge, and calmly resolved a crisis—the sort of wisdom that saves lives.
By the end, Nabal is gone, David’s hands are clean, and Abigail joins him as his wife. The stage is set for David’s ongoing struggle with Saul, but more than that, these events keep proving David’s character, highlighting the kind of king he’s meant to become, and reminding us how much hinges on moments of wisdom and restraint.