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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Abigal</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/a/abigal.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/2_samuel/17-25.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/a/abigal.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Abigal</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/a/abigail's_plea_to_david.htm" title="Abigail's Plea to David">◄</a> Abigal <a href="/topical/a/ab'igal.htm" title="Ab'igal">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#heb" title="Strong's Hebrew Concordance">Hebrew</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Introduction:</b> <br>Abigail is a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, known for her wisdom, beauty, and diplomatic skills. She is primarily mentioned in the First Book of Samuel, where her account unfolds during the reign of King David. Abigail's narrative highlights her role as a peacemaker and her influence in the early history of Israel.<br><br><b>Biblical Account:</b> <br>Abigail is introduced in <a href="/bsb/1_samuel/25.htm">1 Samuel 25</a> as the wife of Nabal, a wealthy but harsh and foolish man from Maon, whose business was in Carmel. The Bible describes Abigail as "intelligent and beautiful" (<a href="/1_samuel/25-3.htm">1 Samuel 25:3</a>), contrasting her with her husband, who is described as "harsh and evil in his dealings."<br><br>During the time when David was fleeing from King Saul, he and his men provided protection to Nabal's shepherds and flocks in the wilderness. When David sent messengers to Nabal during the shearing festival to request provisions, Nabal rudely refused and insulted David, saying, "Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse?" (<a href="/1_samuel/25-10.htm">1 Samuel 25:10</a>).<br><br>Upon hearing of her husband's actions, Abigail quickly took action to prevent bloodshed. She prepared a generous gift of food and wine and went to meet David, without informing Nabal. When she encountered David, she humbly pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of her husband and acknowledged David's future as the leader of Israel. She said, "Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will surely make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because he fights the LORD’s battles" (<a href="/1_samuel/25-28.htm">1 Samuel 25:28</a>).<br><br>David was moved by Abigail's wisdom and intervention, and he praised her for preventing him from taking vengeance. He said, "Blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you for restraining me from bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hands" (<a href="/1_samuel/25-33.htm">1 Samuel 25:33</a>).<br><br><b>Marriage to David:</b> <br>After Abigail returned home, she found Nabal holding a feast. She waited until the next morning to inform him of her actions. Upon hearing the news, Nabal's heart failed, and he became like a stone. About ten days later, the LORD struck Nabal, and he died (<a href="/1_samuel/25-37.htm">1 Samuel 25:37-38</a>).<br><br>Following Nabal's death, David sent for Abigail and took her as his wife. Abigail's marriage to David is noted as a significant alliance, and she became one of David's wives during his rise to power. She bore him a son named Chileab, also known as Daniel (<a href="/2_samuel/3-3.htm">2 Samuel 3:3</a>, <a href="/1_chronicles/3.htm">1 Chronicles 3:1</a>).<br><br><b>Legacy and Significance:</b> <br>Abigail's account is often cited as an example of wisdom, courage, and peacemaking. Her ability to act decisively and diplomatically in a tense situation not only saved her household but also played a crucial role in David's journey to kingship. Her narrative underscores the importance of discernment and the impact of individual actions in the broader context of God's plan for Israel.<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">ABIGAIL; ABIGAL</span><p>ab'-i-gal, ab'-i-gal ('abhighayil, or 'abhighal, three times, or 'abhughayil, once, or 'abhighayil, once; "father," or "cause of joy"):<br><br>(1) The wife of Nabal, a rich shepherd of southern Judea, whose home was Maon (<a href="/1_samuel/25-2.htm">1 Samuel 25:2, 3</a>); shortly after Nabal's death she became the wife of David. Nabal grazed his flocks in or along the Southern Wilderness, where David and his men protected them from marauding tribes, so that not a sheep was lost. When Nabal was sheep-shearing and feasting at Carmel (in Judea), David sent messengers requesting provisions for himself and men. But Nabal, who was a churlish fellow, answered the messengers insultingly and sent them away empty-handed. David, angered by such mean ingratitude, gathered his 400 warriors and set out to destroy Nabal and all he had (<a href="/1_samuel/25-22.htm">1 Samuel 25:22</a>). Meanwhile Abigail, a woman "of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance" (<a href="/1_samuel/25-3.htm">1 Samuel 25:3</a>), heard of the rebuff given the men of David by her husband; and fearing what vengeance David in his wrath might work, she gathered a considerable present of food (<a href="/1_samuel/25-18.htm">1 Samuel 25:18</a>), and hastened to meet the approaching soldiers. Her beautiful and prudent words, as also her fair face, so won David that he desisted from his vengeful purpose and accepted her gift (<a href="/1_samuel/25-32.htm">1 Samuel 25:32-35</a>). When Abigail told Nabal of his narrow escape, he was stricken with fear, and died ten days afterward. Shortly after this David took Abigail to be his wife, although about the same time, probably a little before, he had also taken Ahinoam (<a href="/1_samuel/25-43.htm">1 Samuel 25:43</a>); and these two were with him in Gath (<a href="/1_samuel/27-3.htm">1 Samuel 27:3</a>). After David became king in Hebron, Abigail bore him his second son, Chileab (<a href="/2_samuel/3-3.htm">2 Samuel 3:3</a>) or Daniel, as he is called in <a href="/1_chronicles/3-1.htm">1 Chronicles 3:1</a>.<br><br>(2) Sister of David and mother of Amasa, at one time commander of David's army (<a href="/1_chronicles/2-16.htm">1 Chronicles 2:16, 17</a>; Abigal <a href="/2_samuel/17-25.htm">2 Samuel 17:25</a>). In the first passage she is called David's sister, along with Zeruiah; while in the second she is called the "daughter of Nahash." Several explanations of this connection with Nahash have been suggested, any one of which would be sufficient to remove contradiction:<br><br>(1) That Nahash was another name of Jesse, as in <a href="/isaiah/14-29.htm">Isaiah 14:29</a>, mish-shoresh nachash yetse' (Qimchi);<br><br>(2) That Nahash was the wife of Jesse and by him mother of Abigail, which is least probable;<br><br>(3) That Nahash, the father of Abigail and Zeruiah, having died, his widow became the wife of Jesse, and bore sons to him;<br><br>(4) That the text of <a href="/2_samuel/17-25.htm">2 Samuel 17:25</a> has been corrupted, "daughter of Nahash" having crept into the text. At all events she was the sister of David by the same mother.<br><br>Edward Mack<p><a name="heb" id="heb"></a><div class="vheading2">Strong's Hebrew</div><a href="/hebrew/26.htm"><span class="l">26. Abigayil -- "my father is joy," two Israelite women</span></a><br><b>...</b> <b>Abigal</b>. Or shorter Abiygal {ab-ee-gal'}; from 'ab and giyl; father (ie Source) of<br> joy; Abigail or <b>Abigal</b>, the name of two Israelitesses -- <b>Abigal</b>. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/hebrew/26.htm</font><font color="#ff6600" size="-1"> - 6k</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/a/abigal.htm"><span class="l"><b>Abigal</b> (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia ABIGAIL; <b>ABIGAL</b>. ab'-i-gal <b>...</b> mother. Edward Mack.<br> Multi-Version Concordance <b>Abigal</b> (1 Occurrence). 2 Samuel <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abigal.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/ab'igal.htm"><span class="l">Ab'igal (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br>Ab'igal. <b>Abigal</b>, Ab'igal. Abihail . Multi-Version Concordance Ab'igal (1<br> Occurrence). <b>...</b> (See RSV). <b>Abigal</b>, Ab'igal. Abihail . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/ab'igal.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/abigail.htm"><span class="l">Abigail (18 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Chronicles 3:1). Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) A lady's waiting-maid. Int.<br> Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ABIGAIL; <b>ABIGAL</b>. ab'-i-gal <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/abigail.htm - 17k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/ab'igail.htm"><span class="l">Ab'igail (16 Occurrences)</span></a><br>Ab'igail. Abigail, Ab'igail. <b>Abigal</b> . Multi-Version Concordance Ab'igail (16<br> Occurrences). <b>...</b> Abigail, Ab'igail. <b>Abigal</b> . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/ab'igail.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/z/zeru'iah.htm"><span class="l">Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Jesraelite, that went in<br> to <b>Abigal</b> the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother. (See RSV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/z/zeru'iah.htm - 13k</font><p><a href="/topical/z/zeruiah.htm"><span class="l">Zeruiah (25 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> According to 2 Samuel 2:32, her husband was buried at Bethlehem. In 2 Samuel<br> 17:25, "<b>Abigal</b> the daughter of Nahash" is said to be her sister. See ABIGAIL. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/z/zeruiah.htm - 17k</font><p><a href="/topical/j/jesraelite.htm"><span class="l">Jesraelite (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, that went in<br> to <b>Abigal</b> the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. (See JPS). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/j/jesraelite.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/ama'sa.htm"><span class="l">Ama'sa (12 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Jesraelite, that went in<br> to <b>Abigal</b> the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother. (See RSV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/ama'sa.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/a/ab'salom.htm"><span class="l">Ab'salom (85 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Jesraelite, that went in<br> to <b>Abigal</b> the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother. (See RSV). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/a/ab'salom.htm - 29k</font><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Abigail-in-the-Bible.html">Who was Abigail in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/David-and-Nabal.html">What is the story of David and Nabal? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Nabal-in-the-Bible.html">Who was Nabal in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Abigal (1 Occurrence)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/2_samuel/17-25.htm">2 Samuel 17:25</a></span><br />And Absalom set Amasa over the host instead of Joab. Now Amasa was the son of a man, whose name was Ithra the Israelite, that went in to <span class="boldtext">Abigal</span> the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah, Joab's mother. <br /><span class="source">(ASV JPS)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/a/abigal.htm">Abigal</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abigal.htm">Abigal (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/abihail.htm">Abihail (6 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/a/abigail's_plea_to_david.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Abigail's Plea to David"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Abigail's Plea to David" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/a/ab'igal.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ab'igal"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ab'igal" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>