Magnanimity of David
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a wealthy man named Nabal, who had vast possessions in that region.
Nabal was a descendant of Caleb, but his character was churlish and
niggardly.
It was the time of sheepshearing, a season of hospitality. David
and his men were in sore need of provisions; and in accordance with
the custom of the times, the son of Jesse sent ten young men to Nabal,
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bidding them greet him in their master’s name; and he added: “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. And now
I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were
with us, we hurt them not, neither was there aught missing unto them,
all the while they were in Carmel. [
Not Mount Carmel, but a place
in the territory of Judah, near the hill town of Maon.
] Ask thy young
men, and they will show thee. Wherefore let the young men find favor
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.”
David and his men had been like a wall of protection to the shep-
herds and flocks of Nabal; and now this rich man was asked to furnish
from his abundance some relief to the necessities of those who had
done him such valuable service. David and his men might have helped
themselves from the flocks and herds, but they did not. They behaved
themselves in an honest way. Their kindness, however, was lost upon
Nabal. The answer he returned to David was indicative of his char-
acter: “Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? There be many
servants nowadays that break away every man from his master. Shall
I then take my bread, any my water, and my flesh that I have killed
for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they
be?”
When the young men returned empty-handed and related the affair
to David, he was filled with indignation. He commanded his men to
equip themselves for an encounter; for he had determined to punish
the man who had denied him what was his right, and had added insult
to injury. This impulsive movement was more in harmony with the
character of Saul than with that of David, but the son of Jesse had yet
to learn of patience in the school of affliction.
One of Nabal’s servants hastened to Abigail, the wife of Nabal,
after he had dismissed David’s young men, and told her what had
happened. “Behold,” he said, “David sent messengers out of the