604
Patriarchs and Prophets
When Abigail returned home she found Nabal and his guests in
the enjoyment of a great feast, which they had converted into a scene
[668]
of drunken revelry. Not until the next morning did she relate to her
husband what had occurred in her interview with David. Nabal was a
coward at heart; and when he realized how near his folly had brought
him to a sudden death, he seemed smitten with paralysis. Fearful that
David would still pursue his purpose of revenge, he was filled with
horror, and sank down in a condition of helpless insensibility. After
ten days he died. The life that God had given him had been only a
curse to the world. In the midst of his rejoicing and making merry,
God had said to him, as He said to the rich man of the parable, “This
night thy soul shall be required of thee.”
Luke 12:20
.
David afterward married Abigail. He was already the husband
of one wife, but the custom of the nations of his time had perverted
his judgment and influenced his actions. Even great and good men
have erred in following the practices of the world. The bitter result of
marrying many wives was sorely felt throughout all the life of David.
After the death of Samuel, David was left in peace for a few months.
Again he repaired to the solitude of the Ziphites; but these enemies,
hoping to secure the favor of the king, informed him of David’s hiding
place. This intelligence aroused the demon of passion that had been
slumbering in Saul’s breast. Once more he summoned his men of arms
and led them out in pursuit of David. But friendly spies brought tidings
to the son of Jesse that Saul was again pursuing him; and with a few
of his men, David started out to learn the location of his enemy. It was
night when, cautiously advancing, they came upon the encampment,
and saw before them the tents of the king and his attendants. They
were unobserved, for the camp was quiet in slumber. David called
upon his friends to go with him into the very midst of the foe. In
answer to his question, “Who will go down with me to Saul to the
camp?” Abishai promptly responded, “I will go down with thee.”
Hidden by the deep shadows of the hills, David and his attendant
entered the encampment of the enemy. As they sought to ascertain the
exact number of their foes, they came upon Saul sleeping, his spear
stuck in the ground, and a cruse of water at his head. Beside him lay
Abner, his chief commander, and all around them were the soldiers,
locked in slumber. Abishai raised his spear, and said to David, “God
hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let