Her Name Was Abigail

By Ted Mock

February 18, 2026

1 Samuel 25:3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.

I love the story of David meeting Abigail in I Samuel 25. David has been running from Saul and surviving as best he could.  Many times, as his men were watching out for Saul, they would do double duty protecting the local shepherds.  When the owners of the sheep were shearing them, that was pay day for everyone, including David’s men who showed up looking to be paid.

In this chapter, when David’s men came to Nabal’s house, they were soundly rejected and sent away empty.  David in his rage gathers his men and is prepared to kill every male.  The servants of Nabal recognize the trouble coming their way and run to tell Abigail.  She takes matters into her own hands and goes to meet David with a load of food to head off the destruction coming to her household. In the end Nabal dies of a heart attack, and David marries Abigail.  What a story!

I often use this story to advise young men what qualities to look for in a bride.  Abigail is a good example. She was beautiful. All the boys like that one.  She was intelligent and intuitive; most men need a wise one that has insights, as most men don’t have any. Abigail was approachable and discreet, someone to confide in.  She was reasonable and generous. These are traits all men should appreciate.

Advising young men on bride selection is one thing, advising them on what kind of men they should as a husband is another thing.  I start with saying, “Next to choosing the free gift of salvation from the Lord, your choice of a spouse is the most important decision you will ever make.”

Reflection—Nabal was rich in what he had, not what he was. Abigail was rich in who she was.