David:God's own heart Chapter 3: Abigail Part 1-3

Father's Joy

In Talmud (in Jewish Judaism, it is the central pillar for understanding anything about Judaism, more than the Bible) claims there are 4 women of surpassing beauty in the world namely: Sarah, Rahab, and Esther, and our topic is ABIGAIL.

Who is she? Why is she a Father's joy and one of the four most beautiful women who ever lived and considered to be an important figure in Jewish texts? Turn your pages in 1 Samuel 25.

Be clothed with humility... 1 Peter 5:5

Approaching is a furious man, a future king whose 400 men are heading to strike an Israelite man named Nabal. Nabal was known to be a rich lord but stringent in character. Describe to be a man whose tongue never runs out of insults. 

David ordered 10 men and they set on foot and arrived in Nabal's sheep yard. As these men are stating David's plea, Nabal does not recognize David. Although the bible recounted that David may have steadily been loitering around Nabal's sheep yard, David did not put any animal into harm or even steal it. Instead, he boldly asked for it to provide food for this hundred army of men following behind him. 

God was impressed to David because David believed God could provide and Nabal was the perfect man to support a future king-to-be. Since it happened that they chose to encamp their tents near Nabal's rich household. Unfortunately, Nabal rejected David's call but Abigail his wife heard, and did not spare any minute to offer a solution and stop a bloodbath. 

To cut the story short, Nabal slept sweetly that night after Abigail settled the arrogance of his tongue and appeased even the God Most High when he fell down in front of David. 

Meeting David is boldness but a beauty falling and bowing down on its feet is a state of lowliness. Abigail did say a lot on their first meeting but she never saw David eye to eye and she was about to offer her head to save her husband's. 

So you say, is this love at first kill? 🥶

Part 2. Father's joy

David with 400 swords ready for an overkill. Mighty men marched, hungry and angry. Their footsteps dust the night swooshed to Nabal's house. As the disaster knocks, opens its doors last night to see the moonrise and surely will not live to see the sunrise.

And here you are the Lady of the house barely gasping for air, not even a minute to look at herself in the mirror for dread or terror had come upon her to slaughter everything in her house. Both human and animal. Not even herself will be spared. 

Some poor translations and other judgmental minds think Abigail is a flirt and an opportunist. But hey you are not them and I am not definitely gonna cast a stone as well. Not yet. Save those stones for later!!!

Let's test and float the idea of flirt. Did Abigail in the time of the night, a very furious and probably hungry king-to-be David have the time to entertain such a flirt woman approaching? 

What did David ask Nabal again? 

It wasn't just anything but any available provisions at hand. Probably something to eat. What makes Nabal become the worst husband to his vulnerable household? 

He is tightfisted to the point of miserliness putting insults as cherries on top of its cup and those who ask it must drink and go away as if nothing happened?

David's men had to drink that cup of shame, save the cherries on top, and spit out the insult to their Master said: Nabal sent us empty handed my lord, then said: you are nothing but from a low unknown clan where nothing good comes out of it! 

Now tell me, will flirting work in this scene? A hungry and angry David still has the time to welcome a flirting woman in front of 400 angry men? Come on!!! Think and know better before the subject of flirting bluffs your poor vibe. Can it work? Shame on you! 

So that stone? Where is it again? Did u uncast it? Yeah, that's right for you! Save it for later.🫡🤭

Part 3. Father's joy

Being one of the most beautiful women until today even Jewish Midrash texts claim: "a mere thought of her can inspire lust." Abigail was heavily described as such. 

Yet here you are dirty and ugly, asking and begging to spare your husband's head and offering her neck instead? 🔪

Yeah, that scene proved she's a real flirt and opportunist at the same time! Poor lame you! Stupid in purpose and shame on you.🤨 😄 

Let's see this lense of this story in pure Talmud Jewish text:

The Rabbis tell how Abigail managed to conduct a weighty discussion with David. She came to him on a pretext, asking him to rule whether she was pure or impure after her menstruation. They deduce this from the verse (I Sam. 25:20): “She was riding on the ass and going down the covert of the mountain,” that is, she addressed him concerning covert things, namely, questions concerning menstruation. David told her: “Can blood be seen at night? Menstrual blood must be seen in the daylight!” Taking advantage of this opportunity, Abigail also responded on matters of “blood”: “Are capital cases judged at night? [David had come to kill her husband Nabal at night.] The decision in capital cases must be rendered in daylight!” David replied: “Since I am king and Nabal refuses my orders, he is deemed to be rebelling against the king, and as such may be put to death without a trial.” Abigail retorted: “Saul still reigns, and you are not the ruler. Your coin (matbea) bearing your name, declaring you to be king, has not yet been issued.” This argument won over David, and he conceded to Abigail (v. 33): “And blessed be your prudence” 

Loved these lines: "Are capital cases judged at night?"

Let that sink in!

The coin must be tossed and Abigail turned David's head back to its sanity and now you call this flirting? A midnight appointment opportunist? Think better. 🫡 

What's more the Talmud stories really stem from many explicit interpretations which if you lack some clarity and deviate from matters of understanding the real context, Abigail's story will be swayed and judged to be adulterous. And to complete our appetite for learning let's give in to this steamy scene.

AC

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