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1 Samuel 25:1–22 David Marries Abigail, Part 1

[Study Aired July 13, 2026]

Our study for today focuses on Samuel’s death and how David ended up marrying Abigail. The study highlights the events leading to David coming to see the wickedness of Nabal, Abigail’s husband. David and his men decided to do evil to Nabal. This prompted Abigail to intervene on behalf of Nabal. 

As we are aware, it is the spirit that gives life. This story of David and him marrying Abigail will not benefit us if we only look at the letter. This study therefore looks at the spiritual significance of how David came to be married to Abigail. 

Joh 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 

The Death of Samuel

1Sa 25:1  And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran. 

While Samuel was alive, he was very supportive of David, who was under the judgment of the Lord, using Saul as His instrument of judgment. Samuel therefore represents our Lord Jesus. When we are under the judgment of the Lord, it seems to us as if our Lord is dead. In other words, we come to think that the Lord has forsaken us. 

Isa 54:7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 
Isa 54:8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. 

Mat 27:46  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 

The death of Samuel prompted David to seek refuge in the wilderness of Paran. According to Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Dictionary, Paran means ‘place of Caverns’ which represents large, massive underground caves. David was therefore trying to hide from the judgment of the Lord, as we all do, by taking refuge in underground caves.

Rev 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
Rev 6:16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 
Rev 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Introducing Nabal and Abigail

1Sa 25:2  And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 

Nabal signifies the devil, as we shall see from the story later in the study. He was introduced as one whose business was in Carmel and was a great man. Carmel means ‘garden land’ and spiritually, land represents our bodies. Nabal’s possession being in Carmel therefore means that the devil has dominion over our flesh. That is to say that he empowers our flesh.

Rev 13:4  And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?  

Nabal being described as a great man implies that the Lord had created him as a prince of this world. 

Joh 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

Nabal had three thousand sheep. Sheep on a negative note denotes our brothers and sisters who are not yet part of the Lord’s elect. These brothers and sisters are under the dominion of the devil through false doctrines. 

Joh 10:16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.    

The number three thousand, on a negative note, represents the Lord’s people who have fallen away and are under the dominion of the devil. It represents therefore, our brothers and sisters in the church system of this world or Babylon. 

Exo 32:28  And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And that day about three thousand men of the people fell.

Jos 7:4  So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai. 

Nabal having a thousand goats also expresses the fact that the devil has dominion over those who have fallen away.  

Deu 32:30  How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?

Jos 23:10  One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.

1Sa 25:3  Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb. 

Here in verse 3, Abigail is introduced as a woman of good understanding and of beautiful countenance. She represents the church of the Lord’s elect. Being married to Nabal implies that we must first have the devil as our father, before we are given to have Christ as our husband or father. 

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 
Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  

Nabal was described as a churlish and evil in his doings, which emphasizes his role as the devil. Caleb in the Bible, represents the Lord’s elect. Nabal being of the house of Celeb shows us that the devil and his cohorts focus more on the house of the Lord than the people of this world. The coming of seven more wicked spirits to inhabit a person whose “house” had been emptied and swept clean emphasizes this point of the devil wanting to be where the action is – in the midst of the Lord’s people. 

Mat 12:43  When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 
Mat 12:44  Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 
Mat 12:45  Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. 

1Sa 25:4  And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep. 
1Sa 25:5  And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name: 
1Sa 25:6  And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast. 

In the Bible, the shearing of sheep signifies our submission to the Lord’s will as shown in the following verse:

Isa 53:7  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 

Nabal shearing his sheep therefore means our submission to the devil at a certain stage of our walk with Christ was all part of the Lord’s will for our lives. David sending ten young men to Nabal in verse 5 emphasizes our subjugation to the devil at a certain time of our walk with Christ. We must remember that the number ten denotes the fullness of our flesh, and therefore the ten young men sent by David shows us that we were full of the flesh and as a result, we had respect for those who live in prosperity, which is contrary to the teachings of the word of the Lord. 

Psa 73:2  But as for me [David], my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. 
Psa 73:3  For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 

Jas 2:2  For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 
Jas 2:3  And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 
Jas 2:4  Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 

1Sa 25:7  And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel. 
1Sa 25:8  Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David. 
1Sa 25:9  And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased. 

In verse 7, David and his men being with the shepherds of Nabal signifies our submission to the leadership of the church system of this world at a certain stage of our walk with Christ. During that time, we worked so hard to please our leaders instead of Christ and were looking forward to the Lord blessing us physically. We did not know, however, that we were serving our father the devil at that time, who is not a rewarder. It is only in Christ that we are rewarded for our work in the Lord in this life and the age to come. 

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.  

1Sa 25:10  And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. 
1Sa 25:11  Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? 

From Nabal’s response to David’s servants, we can see that Nabal did not care about David and his men. The devil’s doctrine is for us to only focus on our own welfare. This is what happens in many denominations of the churches of this world where they only pay attention to only those that belong to their denomination. However, the Lord enjoins us not only to look at our own interest, but that of others. This is because when we attend to the needs of others, we are ministering to the Lord. 

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 
Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

1Sa 25:12  So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. 
1Sa 25:13  And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff. 

In these verses, we see that David was getting ready with his men to avenge evil with evil, which is not what the Lord wants us to do. 

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 
Rom 12:20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 
Rom 12:21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. 

We can see from verse 13 that David and his men were not there yet in terms of their spiritual maturity. Growing up in Christ is a process which takes a lifetime. All of us have areas in our walk with Christ which we have to overcome in this race of life, if we are to be crowned. The word of the Lord shows us how we are to run this race. We must forget what is behind us and strive for those things which are before us. 

Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 

Abigail’s Intervention

1Sa 25:14  But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. 

Abigail represents the church of the Lord’s elect. As indicated earlier, the fact that she was married to Nabal implies that we must have the devil as our father, before we are given to have Christ as our father. 

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

Abigail being informed of David and his men’s evil intention against Nabal was for her to intervene, to prevent bloodshed on the hands of David and his men. This shows us the key role of the church of the Lord’s elect – to present us faultless through Christ before God. This is accomplished through what every joint supplies in the body.

Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 
Jud 1:25  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Eph 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

1Sa 25:15  But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we anything, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: 
1Sa 25:16  They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
1Sa 25:17  Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. 

There is no denying that David and his men were very helpful to Nabal and his men. They kept watch day and night and ensured that Nabal’s men and their sheep were kept safe. However, the fact that David and his men were not rewarded by Nabal gave the devil the opportunity to use David and his men to determine evil against Nabal. David and his men forgot that their reward is in Christ. The Lord is indeed a rewarder in this life and in the world to come. He will not forget our labor as we prioritize our relationship with Him. 

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you [what to eat, drink and being clothed].  

In verse 17, the young men wanted Abigail to prevent evil against Nabal and his men. It signifies the role of the church of the Lord’s elect in helping us avoid evil. As indicated, this is done through what every joint supplies.

1Sa 25:18  Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. 
1Sa 25:19  And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. 
1Sa 25:20  And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. 

What Abigail brought with her to see David and his men is very significant. She took two hundred loaves, two bottles of wine, five sheep already dressed, five measures of parched corn, an hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs. All the food and the drink (wine) represent the word of the Lord. Remembering that the number two signifies a witness, the fact that there were two hundred (2x10x10) loaves and cakes of fig and two bottles of wine means that we must have a witness of two or more in the scriptures to establish a doctrine. Abigail bringing the food and the drinks implies that it is in the assembly of the Lord’s elect that we become exposed to the truth of the word of the Lord and are given to establish doctrines based on two or more witnesses. 

2Co 13:1  This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. 

It is also important to note that there were five already-dressed sheep and five measures of parched corn. The parched corn is dried kernels of corn that have been dry-roasted or toasted over heat. Both the parched corn and the already-dressed sheep represent the meat of the Lord’s word. The number five means grace through faith. Abigail bringing five measures of parched corn and five already-dressed sheep means that it is in the church of the Lord’s elect that we receive grace through faith to understand the meat of the word of the Lord. 

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

Abigail not consulting her husband Nabal about what she was going to do for David and his men signifies that the church of the firstborn or the Lord’s elect is not under the control of the prince of the power of the air (the devil). It is our Lord Jesus Christ that we are answerable to. He is our high priest, who sympathizes with us, because he had gone through what we are going through. 

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

1Sa 25:21  Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. 
1Sa 25:22  So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall. 

At this point, David taught that all his labor in helping Nabal’s men was in vain. As a result, he was going to shed the blood of Nabal and his men. He did not know at that time that even our works in supporting the church system of this world or Babylon, at a certain stage of our walk with Christ is all of the Lord and that it is the Lord who directs our path and reward us accordingly. 

Jer 10:23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.  

It is worth noting that even Nebuchadnezzar was rewarded for the work the Lord gave him to do in coming to destroy Jerusalem. How much more will our Father and High Priest, Jesus, our Lord, not reward us His elect, as we seek Him daily? He will surely come to our aid in the fulness of time.

Eze 29:18  “Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made his army labor hard against Tyre. Every head was made bald, and every shoulder was rubbed bare, yet neither he nor his army got anything from Tyre to pay for the labor that he had performed against her.
Eze 29:19  Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall carry off its wealth and despoil it and plunder it; and it shall be the wages for his army.
Eze 29:20  I have given him the land of Egypt as his payment for which he labored, because they worked for me, declares the Lord GOD. 

We thank the Lord that we have a God who is a rewarder. Our labor in the Lord will never be in vain. May His name be praised. Amen!!