25:1 Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the desert of Paran. 1
25:2 There was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel. This man was very wealthy; 2 he owned three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. At that time he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. 25:3 The man’s name was Nabal, 3 and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was both wise 4 and beautiful, but the man was harsh and his deeds were evil. He was a Calebite.
25:4 When David heard in the desert that Nabal was shearing his sheep, 25:5 he 5 sent ten servants, 6 saying to them, 7 “Go up to Carmel to see Nabal and give him greetings in my name. 8 25:6 Then you will say to my brother, 9 “Peace to you and your house! Peace to all that is yours! 25:7 Now I hear that they are shearing sheep for you. When your shepherds were with us, we neither insulted them nor harmed them the whole time they were in Carmel. 25:8 Ask your own servants; they can tell you! May my servants find favor in your sight, for we have come 10 at the time of a holiday. Please provide us – your servants 11 and your son David – with whatever you can spare.” 12