The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1937-01-28
THE MARYLAND BIBLE
SOCIETY'S CORNER
'SThe Word OF Our God Shall
Stand Forever"
The Death of Samuel, and the
Coming of Abigail

Israel into mourning: for he was not
only the last of the Judges whose pass
ing severed the last link in the chain
of great and independent leaders es-
pecially called of the Lord to deliver
his people in times of imminent peril
and danger, but his strong, and yet
lovable personality had endeared him
to the common people. There was ac-
cordingly great lamentation in Ramah,
where the Israelites had gathered for
the funeral ceremonies, and where the
body of Samuel was finally laid to
rest.
David probably attended the funeral
Of Samuel, and then took his journey
into the wilderness of Paran. Not far
from the part of the wilderness where
David and his men dwelt was Mt. Car
mel, while at Maon dwelt a man
whose name was Nabal, and who had
most violent and unreasonable tenn
per. In addition to his natural churl-
ishness, he irritated himself still fur
Their by potent draughts of intoxi-
eating liquor, the result being con-
slant debauch, worse than ever at the
time Of sheep shearing.
David having learned that Nabal
was at that time shearing his sheep,
sent ten of his most noble servants to
solicit food for his furnishing follow
ers. The delegation was authorized to
point out to Nabal that his shepherds
had been protected by David's men
while in the wilderness, thus limiting
at some obligation to generosity on
Nabal's part.
But Nabals answer was just what
might have been expected from such a
man: 'sWho is David and who is the
son Of Jesse? There be many SER
wants nowadays that break away
every man from his master. Shall I
then take my bread, and my water,
and my flesh that l have killed for
my shearers, and give it unto men,
whom know not whence they be?"
So David's young men returned emp
ty-handed to make their report.
David was so incensed by this rude
unneighborliness that ne ordered his
servants to arm themselves with
swords and destroy Nabal and all
that he had. Observing their sinister
preparations, one of Nabals servants
FASTENED to Abigail, Nabal's wife, and
told her all that had happened, espec-
tally emphasizing che courtesies
shown to the shepherds and the care
of David's band not to modest the
focks. He pointed out that these men
were as wall to the shepherds both
by night and by day. The young man
further said to Abigail that his mas
ter was such son of Belial that a
man cannot speak to him. What a COM
mentary on Nabals disposition!
But Abigail was equal to this emer-
gency. She took two hundred loaves,
two wine-slins Of wine, five ready
dressed sheep, five measures of parched
corn, an hundred clusters of raisins,
and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid
them on two pack animals. All this
she did without telling her husband;
and sending this present on ahead, in
charge of her servants, she mounted
her beast and followed. Soon she en-
countered David and his fierce band
on their way to Mt. Carmel, where
they meant to make short shrift of
the churlish Nabal.
Upon seeing David, Abigail alighted
and fell before David on her face, and
bowed herself to the ground. Hav-
ing thus gained his attention she apol-
ogized for the rudeness Of her hus-
band and begged him to accept the Of
fering of food and drink which her
servants then presented. She further
expressed her conviction that God had
sent her to keep David from shedding
the blood of vengeance, although too
small matter for so great man
the future king of Israel-to be con-
cerned with.