David, Nabal and Abigail
1Now Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David moved down into the Desert of Paran.25:1 Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts; other Septuagint manuscripts Maon
2A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 3His name was Nabal and his wife’s name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.
4While David was in the wilderness, he heard that Nabal was shearing sheep. 5So he sent ten young men and said to them, “Go up to Nabal at Carmel and greet him in my name. 6Say to him: ‘Long life to you! Good health to you and your household! And good health to all that is yours!
7“ ‘Now I hear that it is sheep-shearing time. When your shepherds were with us, we did not mistreat them, and the whole time they were at Carmel nothing of theirs was missing. 8Ask your own servants and they will tell you. Therefore be favorable toward my men, since we come at a festive time. Please give your servants and your son David whatever you can find for them.’ ”
9When David’s men arrived, they gave Nabal this message in David’s name. Then they waited.
10Nabal answered David’s servants, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. 11Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?”
12David’s men turned around and went back. When they arrived, they reported every word. 13David said to his men, “Each of you strap on your sword!” So they did, and David strapped his on as well. About four hundred men went up with David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.
14One of the servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, “David sent messengers from the wilderness to give our master his greetings, but he hurled insults at them. 15Yet these men were very good to us. They did not mistreat us, and the whole time we were out in the fields near them nothing was missing. 16Night and day they were a wall around us the whole time we were herding our sheep near them. 17Now think it over and see what you can do, because disaster is hanging over our master and his whole household. He is such a wicked man that no one can talk to him.”
18Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs25:18 That is, probably about 60 pounds or about 27 kilograms of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
20As she came riding her donkey into a mountain ravine, there were David and his men descending toward her, and she met them. 21David had just said, “It’s been useless—all my watching over this fellow’s property in the wilderness so that nothing of his was missing. He has paid me back evil for good. 22May God deal with David,25:22 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew with David’s enemies be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!”
23When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. 24She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. 25Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. 26And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. 27And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.
28“Please forgive your servant’s presumption. The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord, because you fight the Lord’s battles, and no wrongdoing will be found in you as long as you live. 29Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God, but the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. 30When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel, 31my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.”
32David said to Abigail, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. 33May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. 34Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak.”
35Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.”
36When Abigail went to Nabal, he was in the house holding a banquet like that of a king. He was in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until daybreak. 37Then in the morning, when Nabal was sober, his wife told him all these things, and his heart failed him and he became like a stone. 38About ten days later, the Lord struck Nabal and he died.
39When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, “Praise be to the Lord, who has upheld my cause against Nabal for treating me with contempt. He has kept his servant from doing wrong and has brought Nabal’s wrongdoing down on his own head.”
Then David sent word to Abigail, asking her to become his wife. 40His servants went to Carmel and said to Abigail, “David has sent us to you to take you to become his wife.”
41She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.” 42Abigail quickly got on a donkey and, attended by her five female servants, went with David’s messengers and became his wife. 43David had also married Ahinoam of Jezreel, and they both were his wives. 44But Saul had given his daughter Michal, David’s wife, to Paltiel25:44 Hebrew Palti, a variant of Paltiel son of Laish, who was from Gallim.
Daudi, Nabali Na Abigaili
125:1 1Sam 28:3; Law 10:6; Hes 20:29; Kum 34:8; Mwa 21:2; 1Sam 7:17; 2Nya 33:20Basi Samweli akafa, nao Israeli wote wakakusanyika na kumwombolezea; wakamzika nyumbani kwake huko Rama.
Kisha Daudi akateremka kwenye Jangwa la Maoni. 225:2 Yos 15:55; 2Sam 19:32; Mwa 31:19; 1Sam 23:24; Mwa 38:13; 2Sam 13:23Mtu mmoja huko Maoni, aliyekuwa na makao huko Karmeli, alikuwa tajiri sana. Alikuwa na mbuzi elfu moja na kondoo elfu tatu, aliokuwa akiwakata manyoya huko Karmeli. 325:3 Mit 31:10; Yos 14:13; 15:13; Rut 4:11; Mit 14:1; 24:3, 4; Isa 32:5, 7Jina la mtu huyo lilikuwa Nabali, naye mkewe aliitwa Abigaili. Alikuwa mwanamke mwenye busara na mzuri wa sura, lakini mumewe, ambaye alikuwa wa ukoo wa Kalebu, alikuwa mwenye hasira na mchoyo katika utendaji wake.
425:4 Mwa 38:13; 2Sam 13:23Daudi alipokuwa huko jangwani, akasikia kuwa Nabali alikuwa anakata kondoo manyoya. 525:5 1Sam 18:28; Lk 10:5Basi akatuma vijana kumi na kuwaambia, “Pandeni kwa Nabali huko Karmeli, mkamsalimie kwa jina langu. 625:6 Za 122:7; Mt 10:12; 1Nya 12:18Mwambieni: ‘Amani iwe kwako! Amani iwe kwako pamoja na wa nyumbani mwako! Pia amani iwe pamoja na vyote ulivyo navyo!
7“ ‘Nasikia kuwa huu ni wakati wa kukata kondoo manyoya. Wachunga mifugo wako walipokuwa pamoja nasi, hatukuwatendea mabaya na wakati wote waliokuwa huko Karmeli hakuna chochote chao kilipotea. 825:8 Neh 8:10; Es 9:19Waulize watumishi wako nao watakuambia. Kwa hiyo uwatendee wema vijana wangu, kwani tumekuja wakati wa furaha. Tafadhali wape watumishi wako na mwanao Daudi chochote kitakachokuja mkononi mwako kwa ajili yao.’ ”
9Watu wa Daudi walipofika wakampa Nabali ujumbe huu kwa jina la Daudi. Kisha wakangojea.
1025:10 Amu 9:28; Za 73:7, 8; 123:3, 4Nabali akawajibu watumishi wa Daudi, “Huyu Daudi ni nani? Huyu mwana wa Yese ni nani? Watumishi wengi wanakimbia kutoka kwa bwana zao siku hizi. 1125:11 Amu 8:6Kwa nini nichukue mkate wangu, maji yangu na nyama niliyochinja kwa ajili ya wakata manyoya wangu, na kuwapa watu ambao hakuna anayejua wanakotoka?”
12Watu wa Daudi wakageuka na kurudi. Walipofika, wakaarifu kila neno. 1325:13 1Sam 22:2; 21:10; 23:13; 30:24; Hes 31:27Daudi akawaambia watu wake, “Jifungeni panga zenu!” Basi wakajifunga panga zao, naye Daudi akajifunga upanga wake. Watu kama mia nne hivi wakapanda pamoja na Daudi, na watu mia mbili wakabaki na vifaa.
1425:14 1Sam 13:10Mmoja wa watumishi akamwambia Abigaili, mkewe Nabali: “Daudi alituma wajumbe kutoka jangwani kumpa bwana wetu salamu zake, lakini akawavurumishia matukano. 15Hata hivyo watu hawa walikuwa wema sana kwetu. Hawakututendea mabaya, na wakati wote tulipokuwa nje huko mashambani karibu nao, hatukupotewa na kitu chochote. 1625:16 Kut 14:22; Ay 1:10; Za 139:5; Zek 2:5Usiku na mchana walikuwa ukuta wakituzunguka wakati wote tulipokuwa tukichunga kondoo zetu karibu nao. 1725:17 Kum 13:13; 1Sam 20:7Sasa fikiri juu ya jambo hili na uone unaweza kufanya nini, kwa sababu maafa yanakaribia juu ya bwana wetu na nyumba yake yote. Yeye ni mtu mwovu kiasi kwamba hakuna mtu awezaye kuzungumza naye.”
1825:18 Law 23:14; 1Sam 17:17; 1Nya 12:40; Mwa 42:26; 2Sam 16:1; Isa 30:6Abigaili akafanya haraka, akachukua mikate mia mbili, viriba viwili vya divai, kondoo watano waliochinjwa vipimo vitano vya bisi, vishada mia moja vya zabibu kavu, mikate mia mbili ya tini, akavipakia juu ya punda. 1925:19 Mwa 32:20; 1Sam 25:36Kisha akawaambia watumishi wake, “Tangulieni; mimi nitakuja nyuma yenu.” Lakini hakumwambia Nabali mumewe.
20Ikawa alipokuwa amepanda punda wake kwenye bonde la mlima, tazama, Daudi na watu wake wakawa wanateremka kumwelekea, naye akakutana nao. 2125:21 Za 109:5; 1Sam 19:4; Mwa 44:4; Za 35:12; Mit 17:13; Yer 18:20; 1Pet 2:20; 3:17Daudi alikuwa amesema, “Ilikuwa ni kazi bure kuchunga kwangu kote mali za huyu mtu huko jangwani hivi kwamba hakuna chochote chake kilichopotea. Yeye amenilipa baya kwa ajili ya wema. 2225:22 Rut 1:17; 1Fal 14:10; 21:21; 2Fal 9:8; 1Sam 20:13Bwana na amshughulikie Daudi, tena kwa ukali, ikiwa kesho asubuhi nitambakizia mwanaume hata mmoja aliye hai miongoni mwa watu wake wote!”
2325:23 Mwa 19:1; 1Sam 20:41; Yos 15:18; Amu 1:14Abigaili alipomwona Daudi, akashuka haraka kwenye punda wake, akainama kifudifudi uso wake mpaka nchi mbele ya Daudi. 2425:24 2Sam 14:9Akamwangukia miguuni pake na kusema: “Bwana wangu, kosa hili na liwe juu yangu mwenyewe. Tafadhali mruhusu mtumishi wako aseme nawe. Sikia kile mtumishi wako atakachosema. 2525:25 Mit 17:12; 12:16; 14:16; 20:3; Isa 32:5Bwana wangu na asimjali huyo mtu mwovu Nabali. Yeye anafanana na jina lake; jina lake ni Mpumbavu, nao upumbavu huenda pamoja naye. Lakini kwangu mimi, mtumishi wako, sikuwaona hao watu waliotumwa na bwana wangu.
2625:26 Ebr 10:30; 2Sam 18:32; 2Fal 2:2; Mwa 20:6; Rum 12:19; 2Sam 18:32“Basi sasa, kwa kuwa Bwana amekuzuia, wewe bwana wangu, kutokumwaga damu na kutolipiza kisasi kwa mikono yako mwenyewe, hakika kama Bwana aishivyo na kama uishivyo, maadui zako na wote wanaokusudia kumdhuru bwana wangu wawe kama Nabali. 2725:27 Mwa 33:11; 1Sam 30:26Nayo zawadi hii ambayo mtumishi wako amemletea bwana wangu, wapewe watu wanaofuatana nawe. 2825:28 2Sam 14:9; 7:11, 26; 1Sam 18:17; 24:11; 1Fal 9:5; 1Nya 17:16Tafadhali samehe kosa la mtumishi wako, kwa kuwa Bwana kwa hakika ataifanya imara nyumba ya ufalme kwa bwana wangu, kwa sababu anapigana vita vya Bwana. 2925:29 1Sam 20:1; Yer 10:18; 22:26; 1Sam 17:50; 2Sam 4:8; Za 66:9; Mit 10:29, 30; Mdo 17:28Hata ingawa yuko mtu anayekufuatia kuuondoa uhai wako, usiruhusu baya lolote kuonekana kwako siku zote za maisha yako, uhai wa bwana wangu utafungwa salama kwenye furushi la walio hai na Bwana Mungu wako. Lakini uhai wa adui zako atavurumishwa kama vile jiwe kutoka kwenye kombeo. 3025:30 1Sam 12:12; 13:14Bwana atakapokuwa ameshamtendea bwana wangu kila kitu chema alichoahidi kumhusu yeye na kumweka kuwa kiongozi wa Israeli, 3125:31 Mwa 40:14; 2Sam 3:10bwana wangu hatakuwa na dhamiri inayolemewa na mzigo kwa kumwaga damu kusiko na sababu, au kujilipizia kisasi yeye mwenyewe. Bwana atakapomletea bwana wangu mafanikio, umkumbuke mtumishi wako.”
3225:32 Mwa 24:27; Kut 18:10; Lk 1:68; Ezr 7:27; Za 41:12, 13; 72:18; 2Kor 8:16Daudi akamwambia Abigaili, “Ahimidiwe Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli aliyekutuma kunilaki leo. 33Ubarikiwe kwa uamuzi wako mzuri na kwa kunizuia nisimwage damu leo na kulipiza kisasi kwa mikono yangu. 34La sivyo, hakika kama Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, aishivyo, ambaye amenizuia nisiwadhuru, kama usingekuja haraka kunilaki, hakuna hata mwanaume mmoja wa Nabali angeachwa hai kufikia mapambazuko.”
3525:35 Mwa 19:21; 2Fal 5:19; 1Sam 20:42; 2Sam 15:9; Lk 7:50Ndipo Daudi akapokea kutoka mkononi mwake kile alichokuwa amemletea, naye akasema, “Nenda nyumbani kwako kwa amani; nimesikia maneno yako na kukujalia ombi lako.”
3625:36 Rut 3:7; Mit 20:1; Mhu 10:17; Isa 5:11, 22; 22:13; 28:7; 56:12; Hos 4; 11; 2Sam 13:23Abigaili alipokwenda kwa Nabali, alikuwa ndani ya nyumba yake akifanya karamu kama ile ya mfalme. Naye alikuwa ana furaha nyingi, akiwa amelewa sana. Kwa hiyo Abigaili hakumwambia mumewe kitu chochote mpaka asubuhi yake. 3725:37 Kut 15:16; Kum 28:28; Ay 15:21Basi asubuhi, Nabali alipokuwa amelevuka, mkewe akamwambia mambo yote, nao moyo wake ukazimia, akawa kama jiwe. 3825:38 Kum 32:35; 1Sam 24:12; 26:10; 2Sam 6:7; 12:15; Kut 12:29; 2Sam 6:7; Ay 12:10; Za 104:29; Mdo 12:23Baada ya siku kumi, Bwana akampiga Nabali, naye akafa.
3925:39 Mit 22:23; 2Sam 3:28, 29; 1Fal 2:44; Es 7:10; Za 7:16Daudi aliposikia kwamba Nabali amekufa, akasema, “Ahimidiwe Bwana, ambaye amenitetea shauri langu dhidi ya Nabali kwa kuwa alinitendea kwa dharau. Amemzuia mtumishi wake asitende mabaya na Bwana ameuleta ubaya wa Nabali juu ya kichwa chake mwenyewe.”
Kisha Daudi akatuma ujumbe kwa Abigaili kumwomba awe mke wake. 40Watumishi wa Daudi wakaenda mpaka Karmeli na kumwambia Abigaili, wakisema, “Daudi ametutuma kwako kukuchukua uwe mkewe.”
4125:41 Rut 2:10, 13; Mit 15:33; 18:12Akainama chini uso wake mpaka ardhini, akasema, “Mjakazi wako yuko hapa, tayari kuwatumikia na kuwanawisha miguu watumishi wa bwana wangu.” 4225:42 2Sam 2:2; 3:3; 1Nya 3:1Abigaili akainuka kwa haraka, akapanda punda wake, akihudumiwa na wajakazi wake watano, akaenda pamoja na wajumbe wa Daudi, naye akawa mkewe. 4325:43 2Sam 3:2; 1Nya 3:1; 1Sam 30:5; 2Sam 2:2; Yos 15:56Pia Daudi alikuwa amemwoa Ahinoamu wa Yezreeli, wote wawili wakawa wake zake. 4425:44 2Sam 3:15; Isa 10:30Lakini Sauli alikuwa amemwoza Mikali binti yake, aliyekuwa mkewe Daudi, kwa Palti mwana wa Laishi, kutoka Galimu.
